The EU-funded Citi-Sense project on social and geographical mapping

For each area selected within the research project, several observation points have been defined so to can get more reliable results by evaluating a larger area of each zone. To involve people, a list of organizations in the city has been prepared, based on geographical plurality criteria and the potential interest of those entities in environmental and urban environment matters. Forty-nine entities were invited to the project presentation meetings. Thus, a group of more than 40 volunteers accepted to participate. In addition, a secondary school in the city, with a small group of students of "environmental instructor" grade, has been contacted. This centre has actively participated in the project with a group of 9 instructors. Each volunteer received a kit, consisting of a portable sensor and a smartphone to measure acoustic and thermal comfort. In addition, a comprehensive questionnaire was developed to collect information about subjective perception of thermal comfort, acoustic comfort, landscape perception and other variables to provide more accurate comfort data according to each observer's profile. At the end of two weeks, more than 200 observations of 9 points have been made. In order to visualize the obtained data in the best way and to make them more understandable and easier to use by all citizens, a group of volunteers has been participating in a workshop about co-design of displaying the observations. One of the objectives of this empowerment initiative seeks to increase the social impact of the project to expand the user community. To reach a wider audience, several tools such as Facebook pages, a questionnaire, a brochure for dissemination and recruitment, a website, a press event, and workshops for the volunteers have been used.

Note: See source document for full reference.

Cultural Factors: Social networks, Educational system, Attitudes toward environmental issues

Hazards: Natural hazards

Disaster Phases: All disaster phases, Prevention, Preparedness, Response, Recovery

Types of Actors Concerned: Active citizens, NGOs