How can spatial databases support social justice and equity in community-based research?

1 What is community-based research?

Community-based research (CBR) is a collaborative approach to research that involves community members as active partners in defining, designing, conducting, and disseminating research projects that address their needs and priorities. CBR aims to produce relevant and useful knowledge that can inform action and change, while also empowering and respecting the community's values, culture, and autonomy. CBR can take various forms and methods, depending on the context and purpose of the research, but it usually involves participatory, qualitative, and action-oriented approaches.

2 How can spatial databases enhance CBR?

Spatial databases can enhance CBR in several ways. First, they can help researchers and community members collect, organize, and manage large and diverse spatial data sets, such as census data, surveys, maps, GPS tracks, satellite images, and social media posts. Second, they can enable spatial analysis and modeling, such as spatial statistics, network analysis, spatial clustering, and spatial regression, to reveal spatial patterns, relationships, and influences that might otherwise be hidden or overlooked. Third, they can facilitate spatial visualization and communication, such as interactive maps, dashboards, story maps, and web applications, to share and disseminate the research findings and recommendations in an accessible and engaging way.

3 What are the ethical and political issues of spatial databases in CBR?

Spatial databases in CBR can also raise ethical and political issues that require careful consideration and negotiation, such as spatial data privacy, ownership, and representation. Spatial data privacy involves protecting the confidentiality, anonymity, and consent of the data subjects, as well as ensuring the security, integrity, and accountability of the data collection, storage, and access. Spatial data ownership is a crucial issue that involves recognizing and respecting the intellectual property, cultural property, and data sovereignty of the data providers. Lastly, spatial data representation is an important issue that involves acknowledging and addressing the epistemological, ontological, and methodological assumptions of the data production and consumption. All of these issues are critical for understanding how to protect individuals from discrimination, surveillance, or harm while also ensuring fair access to data.

4 What are the principles and practices of spatial databases in CBR?

In order to address the ethical and political issues of spatial databases in CBR, researchers and community members should adhere to a set of principles and practices. Spatial data ethics is a collection of moral principles and values that inform and evaluate the ethical implications of spatial data collection, analysis, and use. This can help prevent potential harms, conflicts, or injustices that might arise from their spatial data practices. Meanwhile, spatial data literacy is a set of skills and competencies that enable researchers and community members to understand, use, and communicate spatial data effectively and critically. Lastly, spatial data justice is a set of norms and actions that ensure spatial data are used for social good rather than social harm. This can help align their practices with the goals and values of CBR, as well as advocate for the spatial rights, interests, and needs of marginalized or oppressed groups.

5 How can you learn more about spatial databases in CBR?

If you’re interested in learning more about spatial databases in CBR, there are several resources and opportunities to explore. You can take online courses on platforms like Coursera, edX, Udemy, or DataCamp to learn the basics or advance your skills. Books and journals offer theoretical frameworks, practical examples, case studies, and best practices. Additionally, you can connect with other researchers and community members through communities and networks that offer opportunities for learning, sharing, collaborating, and supporting each other on spatial databases in CBR. Examples include Community Mapping Network, Public Lab, Grassroots Mapping, Data for Black Lives, and Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?