Mapping and Wayfinding
Next meeting:
Mapping Meeting
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Our Town Cafe (245 East Broadway, at Kingsway)
7pm
Since it began, the VPSN has been engaged in various map-making and way-finding excercises. Initially, this was linked primarily with our work on mapping surveillance camera and CCTV apparatus in various Vancouver Neighbourhoods. However, over the course of 2007, this was expanded to include an number of areas of activity.
This project group works on two main activities:
Public Space Mapping
Our various mapping projects typically involve several phases of activity. For maps that we aim to use in reports, publications and presentations to help the VPSN promote public space advocacy, we gather the raw materials for the maps, refine the data, and then render it using GIS and drawing software. We have been exploring free, publicly available mapping technology - like GoogleMaps -- so that we can draw on local knowledge of public (and hidden!) spaces to create unique, collaborative online maps that uncover the different faces of Vancouver. The group is also charged with dreaming up new and creative ways to get these maps out to the public, both online and on the streets.
Vancouver Wayfinding
One of our new projects for 2008 involves the creation of creative wayfinding aids for residents to the City. Ever gotten out of a Skytrain station and been turned around, unsure of where you were? Or found yourself curious as to where the cool things in a neighbourhood might be? We've had a lot of people that tell us about their experiences of moving through Vancouver and these sorts of questions and concerns keep coming up -- so we thought we ought to try and do something about it. We're working on developing this project more thoroughly, so be sure the check back and see where it's at over the next few months.
Current Mapping Projects
Some of the VPSN working group projects we're working on now include:
- Bike Lock Infrastructure
- Surveillance cameras in the downtown core
- Billboard locations
- Greemaps
- Community gardens and food security
If you'd like to lend a hand with these initiatives, please contact the Working Group Coordinator Eliana at eliana | at | vancouverpublicspace.ca.
[top]