Part V
Technology, GIS, and Digital Tools
- 26 Introduction to GIS Introduces Geographic Information Systems (GIS) as a core technology for Community Mapping. Covers spatial data concepts, layers, geometry types, coordinate systems, geocoding, spatial operations, and common analytical mistakes.
- 27 Digital Mapping Tools A practical comparison of digital mapping platforms — from professional GIS to browser-based tools — examining capabilities, costs, learning curves, and community control to help practitioners choose the right tool for their context.
- 28 Open Data and Public Data Sources Introduces open data ecosystems, public data sources, licensing, and discoverability across municipal, provincial, national, and international datasets — with emphasis on what open data reveals, what it hides, and how to navigate the gaps.
- 29 Mobile Data Collection How to collect community data in the field using mobile devices, GPS, digital forms, and sensor tools — balancing efficiency, accessibility, data quality, and operational security.
- 30 Drones, LiDAR, and Remote Sensing Introduction to remote sensing technologies for Community Mapping — aerial imagery, LiDAR, satellite data, AI-assisted analysis — and the ethical challenges of aerial surveillance, consent, and power.