We often see customers use Maptionnaire to for re-design and planning projects related to different outdoor spaces and trail systems. Read this article to learn what the most common pitfalls are and what to do instead!
1. Learn About Current Use
Add a Map point feature to a page and ask respondents to pin their favorite places in the space or area. E.g. "Where is your favorite spot in this park/on this street right now?" Add a pop-up to the question in which they can explain in their own words why they picked this spot. You can also add for example multiple choice questions regarding use (e.g. "Select the activities you do here" or "How often do you come here"), but keep their number limited – especially if you want respondents to mark more than one place.
But what if we're most interested in trails? Those can be difficult to mark with points.
If your project focuses on a trail system, how about using the pop-up map feature to allow respondents to select the specifics stretches of trail they use? You can find a tutorial here and ask support@maptionnaire.com to help you set it up!
Purpose: This gives you a rich set of GIS data that identifies the "sacred spaces" you shouldn’t change and gives you ample information on the values and uses of the space.
2. Enable Visitors to Pinpoint What Does Not Work
Add another Map point, but this time ask respondents to pin the places that they find to be problematic, inadequate or unsafe. Again, allow them to elaborate on the specific issue in the pop-up.
Combine this with a simple "Select the three most important problems in this space" multiple-choice question, and you already have a wealth of information!
- Purpose: You'll learn the key issues of the space and where they are. A common pitfall is to ask respondents to evaluate each and every issue on a 1-5 scale. That often results in exhausted respondents and data where it can be difficult to find the most crucial points or to know what specific place they have to do with.
3. Invite Respondents to Co-Design with Geo-Budgeting
Explain what is possible in the space – you can also include images or even video. For example, in the case of a park, this could mean specific facilities, furniture and plant types. Then ask respondents to pick their preferred items by using the Geo-Budgeting feature.
Even though it uses "budgeting" it does not mean you need to estimate the monetary cost of each item. You can also treat this as a simple "trade off" exercise where the "budget" that everyone has is for example 5 choices out of a list of 15 possible items. Respondents can then pick their 5 favorites from the list and where they'd place them in the space.
Purpose: This forces people to prioritize what they actually want versus what is just "nice to have." It gives the planners concrete GIS data of respondents' preferences for the space.
4. A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words
Present a selection of images using the Image grid and let respondents choose the atmosphere and style they want for the space. E.g. "Which of these streetscapes feels more like the future of [Street Name]?"
Purpose: Communicates design ideas in an effective way and makes the task of responding more interesting for the respondents.