Evaluation of PPGIS empowerment — A case study of Meinong Yellow Butterfly Valley in Taiwan

As a tool of public policy making, PPGIS (public participation geographic information system) makes its biggest impact in regard to empowerment. Quite few methods are available for making a complete evaluation of the empowerment. Using the Meinong Yellow Butterfly Valley as a case study, this article analyzes how the processes and outcomes of the PPGIS make an impact on empowerment in terms of three aspects indicated by the questions: “What is empowered?” “Who are empowered?” and “How to empower?” The results show that we are able to completely grasp the impact of PPGIS empowerment by analyzing what, who and how aspects simultaneously. They also indicate that PPGIS empowerment involves mutual transfers of knowledge, capabilities and power among all of the stakeholders, which can't simply be given by outsiders.

► PPGIS empowers stakeholders through integrating local and professional knowledge.
► PPGIS helps to reach consensus by integrating spatially associated opinions.
► PPGIS empowers stakeholders to improve decision-making quality.
► PPGIS empowerment effect can be grasped by a three aspects – what, who and how – analytical approach.