Colleagues, I have been eavesdropping on the GKD discussions for several months, and it seems this could be a very useful forum to help me scope and frame some research I plan to do early in the New Year.
My interest is in Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and related technologies - including the development of Spatial Data Infrastructures. Over the past decade or so, my work has taken me to many parts of the world, including several Developing countries (Egypt, India, Mauritania, Senegal, Kenya, etc.). Having seen the diffusion to, and take-up of GIS in these countries, I have been struck by the reality that this is a technology developed initially in and for the "West", that is now being transferred in various ways to other, non-Western societies. This diffusion must inevitably carry with it many important and interesting cultural / other implications and impacts. I also get the strong impression that most transfer of GIS to developing world countries has, so far, been through a top-down mechanism (the technology brought in, and often even managed by, donors or outside agencies from "Western" countries) rather than through bottom-up means (local communities in Africa, Asia, Latin America, taking the initiative to acquire and use GIS for their own requirements with only minimal inputs from system vendors and "Western" interests). Over the next six months, I hope to research some of these issues and hypotheses. Questions that I have already identified, and would particularly like to explore, include the very basic one: * "Is GIS an appropriate technology for developing countries?" And, leading from this, * "What are the social, cultural, economic and other impacts that may attend diffusion of GIS to developing countries?" * "What are the main current models of GIS diffusion to and take-up within these countries, and how do each of these models compare in terms of impact and effectiveness?" * "To what extent are the cartographic and other metaphors embedded in current GIS technologies relevant to the world views and geographies encountered in non-Western societies?" * "What are the biggest success stories, and the heroic failures, regarding the application of GIS within developing world countries?" * "What impacts does GIS have on the decision-making process in non-Western societies, and how does - or should - this relate to cultural and other nuances of the societies in question?" I am posting this message now, in the hope that GKD readers might help me (a) frame the research and suggest any important questions they believe I have overlooked; (b) point me in the direction of "must-read" literature on the topic; and (c) help me make contact with key authorities and other organisations or individuals who might be particularly relevant to such research? I am especially interested in making contact with people who can help bring a critical and analytical eye to the role of GIS in these non-Western contexts. In February I plan to attend the GSDI-7 conference in Bangalore, and I shall be spending much of the month travelling in India. I would be particularly interested, therefore, in hearing from anyone who either plans to also be at that conference, or who is based in India and would be willing to talk to me. Many thanks for your time, and best regards for the Christmas season to one and all. While I have been silent on this forum till now, I have greatly enjoyed your exchanges of views over the past year. Darius Bartlett ************************************************* Darius Bartlett Department of Geography Roinn na Tireolaiochta University College Cork Colaste na hOllscoile Corcaigh Cork, Ireland Corcaigh, Eire Phone: (+353) 21 4902835 Fax: (+353) 21 4271980 Phone(GSM): (+353) 86 8238043 E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Web: http://www.ucc.ie/staff/djb ************************************************* This message was transmitted using 100% recycled electrons.... ************************************************* ------------ ***GKD is solely supported by EDC, a Non-Profit Organization*** To post a message, send it to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To subscribe or unsubscribe, send a message to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>. In the 1st line of the message type: subscribe gkd OR type: unsubscribe gkd Archives of previous GKD messages can be found at: <http://www.edc.org/GLG/gkd/>
