Using a dgroup with third party online applications for a cause
Giacomo Rambaldi · 2007
This paper describes how a number of free third-party online applications have been mashed-up with the [ppgis] Dgroup in order to maximise its online visibility, functionality and outreach. The mash-up provided the foundation upon which an informal network has thrived over a period of 3 years reaching a membership of close to 1200 people scattered around the globe and communicating, collaborating and networking via the www.ppgis.net mash-up. As developer and animator of this initiative, the author describes the process undergone, strategic choices made, web applications used, and the main uses to which the core dgroup [ppgis] has been put by G. Rambaldi, 2007 Using a dgroup with third party online applications for a cause. Knowledge Management for Development Journal 3(1), 115-125 www.km4dev.org/journal 125 its members. In addition based on members’ feedback – the author summarises their perceived impact deriving from their affiliation to the network. About the Author Giacomo Rambaldi is a senior programme officer at the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA) in the Netherlands. He has worked in development since 1982 in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Caribbean and South Pacific. As a personal contribution to development, in 2000 he launched Participatory Avenues [www.iapad.org], a website dedicated to sharing knowledge on community mapping. In 2004, he launched the Open Forum on Participatory Geographic Information Systems and Technologies [www.ppgis.net]. His areas of professional interest include visualizing indigenous spatial knowledge for improving communication, facilitating peer-to-peer dialogue and managing conflicts on issues related to the territory; collaborative natural resource management; participatory spatial planning; networking and web publishing. Giacomo is currently undertaking a part-time PhD in Communication Sciences at the Wageningen University in the Netherlands. Giacomo Rambaldi, Burgemeestersplein 15, 6814 Arnhem, The Netherlands. E-mail: [email protected] i Google delivers close to 50,000 results when searching for the term ‘ppgis’ ii A case in point has been the collegial development of a code of ethics for the practice in Rambaldi G, Chambers R., McCall M, And Fox J. 2006. Practical ethics for PGIS practitioners, facilitators, technology intermediaries and researchers. PLA 54:106-113, IIED, London, UK iii Community Mapping Network – South East Asia [cmn-sea] iv Community Mapping Network – East and Central Africa [cmn-eca]