How can GIS professionals communicate with stakeholders who have different levels of understanding?

The first step of any analysis process is to know what and who you are dealing with, their knowledge, their needs, targets and capabilities. and these for sure the first starting point for any project. is to propose for your client the most useful benefit, in any project cycle is called VALUE you have to give your stakeholder VALUE for sure it will be the most appreciated thing that you could do in a project

Know your audience is paramount in GIS communication. Prior to presenting or explaining your GIS work, invest time in researching your audience. Understand who they are, delve into their roles and responsibilities, and grasp their goals and challenges. Explore their existing knowledge and skills in GIS and identify their preferred methods for receiving and processing information. By addressing these questions, you empower yourself to customize your communication style and content, ensuring it aligns seamlessly with their needs and preferences.

Understanding the audience of GIS data, whether they are beginners, enthusiasts, or experts, is essential. Identifying the audience serves as the starting point for any project or discussion, providing guidance for subsequent development.

In GIS, understanding the audience means navigating diverse roles and expertise levels. From executives craving strategic insights to technical analysts exploring data intricacies, tailoring communication is paramount. It's about distilling complex spatial data for executives, diving into methodologies for analysts, and simplifying for the broader audience. Adapting content ensures GIS insights align with stakeholders' needs, driving informed decisions and meaningful engagements.

GIS professionals can effectively communicate with stakeholders of varying understanding levels by using clear and concise language, visual aids such as maps and charts, and real-world examples to illustrate concepts. Tailoring the message to the specific audience is key-avoid technical jargon when speaking to non-experts, and provide more in-depth information for those with a technical background. Utilizing storytelling techniques and interactive demonstrations can make complex GIS concepts more accessible. Encouraging questions and feedback helps ensure a shared understanding and fosters engagement, ultimately enhancing communication between GIS professionals and stakeholders with diverse levels of expertise.

If you must use a specific term, take a moment to define it or offer a relevant example. Additionally, be mindful of not overwhelming or confusing your audience with excessive numbers or details. Focus on presenting key facts and figures that directly support your arguments or recommendations.

Those presenting a GIS concept or idea must adhere to the principles of effective presentation: Actively listen to their audience, grasp their language, and employ it to enhance comprehension. Restrict the number of messages conveyed. Simplify technical jargon into easily understandable terms. Incorporate examples, anecdotes, or analogous experiences for clarity.

When communicating GIS results, it is important during the presentation to focus on the visualization (maps, graphs) to make it easier for understanding instead of taking more time in the process and analysis which can be simplified by an organizational chart or hierarchical plan It is important also to use simple language with less technical words (excpt for the most important ones) and explain process by giving examples and analogies with emphasis on the concrete consequences and applications of the results In the end of the presentation, make sure to synthesize results in few sentences and share recommendations

"In my experience, the most effective way to enhance GIS communication is through visual aids, especially maps and flow charts. Whether it's a web map for dynamic interaction or a fixed map for specific situations, visual elements play a pivotal role. Utilizing maps, charts, graphs, and flow charts helps in presenting data, analysis, and results in a more accessible and engaging manner.

Like we say, a picture is worth a thousand words ; maps are really easy to understand and in fact , by adding map visual context to any report or insight , one makes it easier for anyone to understand . Let’s say you want to depict the difference of population for states in India; you can show it using varying color range on the map itself rather just showing it in graphical form pr use both. Use of balanced color schemes , labels , legends helps in memorising insights . Like we say in UX design that we should avoid cognitive load for the end user , same applies to map based visualisations. See if you are able to tell a story through maps. Always have the customer in mind . It’s really simple & yet a rare skill.

In my experience, interactive dashboards with a mix of map based visualisations, charts and graphs have helped in building a story around the problem statement. It also helps if user is provided further access to explore the visualisation on their own, which builds trust in your findings and further their understanding.

The best way in my experience to communicate with stakeholders is making an interactive map. It allows them to explore the data on their own. But make sure that the legends denote all the symbols and colors simply. You can even use Storymaps to represent your spatial data. Here you can include a lot of graphs, texts, maps, videos, and images. ANd you can also make a tour of your spatial data if there is large space between locations

There are some ways GIS Professionals can communicate with stakeholders who have different levels of understanding. See, difference of opinion is one thing. But there are some key points to note down: 1. Know Your Audience: Understand the stakeholder’s backgrounds, their roles and their familiarity with GIS. Try to communicate with them accordingly. Avoid using technical jargons when speaking with non-experienced and non-technical stakeholders. 2. Use Visual Aids: Maps, Charts and infographics are powerful tools. They can simplify complex information and it more accessible to those who are unfamiliar with GIS. 3. Storytelling: Narratives and case studies help illustrate the real-world impact of GIS. Frame your message in a story.

Combining my expertise in GIS and public speaking, I enjoy incorporating the art of storytelling into data presentations. Whether delivering a physical story with synchronized narration and gestures or conveying it through words, I strive to narrate effectively using visuals such as maps, charts, and tables.

Telling a story in GIS is about bridging the gap between data and impact. It's crafting a narrative that contextualizes geographical insights. Start with a compelling introduction, setting the stage to captivate interest. Explain the problem, unveil GIS's pivotal role in the solution, and showcase the tangible outcomes. Seamlessly connecting these elements fosters understanding, making complex data relatable and driving home the relevance of GIS in addressing real-world challenges.

GIS storytelling organizes spatial data into compelling stories. Go beyond maps and connect the dots to uncover stories. For example, track the development of a city by overlaying demographics, infrastructure, and culture on historical maps. Visualize complex information in an easy-to-understand manner. Integrating data sources such as satellite imagery and social media geotags creates multidimensional factual and emotional stories. Through citizen participation, local insights are gained and the story is enriched together. GIS goes beyond traditional storytelling to connect data to human experiences that are deeply rooted in geography.

Telling a story about the project with a focus on GIS use is the the best way to attract audience and keep them focus on the presentation, a good story may also help in involving our audience to take steps into the application of recommendations , and we have some GIS tools that can help in storytelling like ArcGIS story map

Effective communication of GIS work to diverse stakeholders involves understanding your audience and tailoring your message accordingly. Use plain language, avoiding technical jargon, and rely on visual aids like maps to convey complex information. Construct a compelling narrative that relates GIS findings to the stakeholders' concerns. Actively listen to their feedback, fostering collaboration through workshops and interactive tools. Address concerns transparently, offer training for GIS literacy, and showcase real-world successes. Demonstrate the return on investment and conclude with clear next steps, encouraging ongoing engagement.

Communication plays an important role in GIS and it is not just about communicating the results but also making sure to minimize disagreement and avoid ambiguity and for this it is important to adopt an interactive approach and to let audience ask questions about the presentation and answer all the questions using less technical jargon It is important to note that empathy is not to neglect because making ourselves in other shoes will help us to find the best way to transmit ideas and explain the project in way that will not make the audience feel bored and uncomfortable

In my PhD research, I worked with stakeholders with different level of expertise and interests. I utilized a maptable (large horizontal touch screen) to provide a geovisual platform and to keep the attention focused on the problem under discussion. The process was iterative so anytime I propose a solution, I could collect feedback (co-design) to validate whether I understood correctly.

Make it personal - add examples related to your experience or that of your audience. For instance, if its about a project covering your home town, perhaps add examples of your favourite spots, like cafes and restaurants. If its about land use, pick interesting examples like the national parks you visited. Make sure your audience gets that its not just data - its stories, people, and many ideas! that way its easier to link anything business-related as well.

Through examples. Provide a lot of examples from real world around them. After they are immersed in the real world examples, link it with your GIS data and explain it.

I have found understanding the stakeholders and how they see the world is the easiest way to communicate GIS data. Expressing the data in forms they easily understand, be it graphs, maps or stories .

Delve into the fundamental principles of GIS Data Storytelling and discover how these concepts—Storytelling, Cartography, and GIS analysis—are intricately woven together to create compelling narratives.