Public projects can have a major impact on communities, so public participation is a key contributor to the success of public works.
Gathering public feedback has many benefits for public projects. It helps build community support, awareness, and understanding. The project developers can learn from local knowledge. Also, when the public raises concerns or issues early on, it greatly reduces the risk of costly surprises later on.
However, it can be difficult and expensive to gather public feedback. The feedback process can also be time-consuming for the participant which results in low participation rates.
So, how do you create cost-effective and successful public participation campaigns?
You need a self-service solution where the participants can easily and quickly view and understand the project and provide feedback with minimal time and effort.
Feedback Maps provide an ideal channel to gather community feedback for public projects.
What is a Public Feedback Map?
A Public Feedback Map is an online, interactive map used by cities and local governments to visually share planned public works and collect community feedback. The feedback is from these maps is then fed into the next iteration of the project. Here are some of the main benefits of Public Feedback Maps:
Clear interface for the feedback providers
Online maps are very popular and most people are familiar with maps user interfaces. When highlighting a new project on a map, the public can easily and quickly understand the project’s impact and provide feedback on the spot. This dramatically increases the public participation rate.
Easy to share
Public feedback maps can be shared through social media and email channels. Participants can provide feedback at any time with any type of device from desktop to mobile phone.
Best Practices for Public Feedback Maps
Clearly show your new project on the map
Use custom map styles, an image overlay, or 3D models to display the new project on your feedback map.
Use markers and call-to-action buttons
Highlight specific areas or aspects of your project with markers. For each marker, include a clear call to action button to ask participants to leave feedback
Make the feedback user-friendly
Implement a user-friendly survey or feedback system like Jotform or Typeform. Keep the number of questions to the minimum and allow for open-ended feedback.
Share the feedback
Share the feedback you already gathered on the map so new participants can see other participant’s feedback.
Example of Public maps
The Batemans Bay Bridge replacement project is a project spearheaded by the New South Wales Department of Transport agency.
The foreshore design project developers used a Public Feedback Map to show the public the new project and gather public feedback.
The feedback map includes an image overlay with the new proposed bridge allowing participants to easily visualize how the new project will look and compare it with the existing infrastructure.
Different features of the project are highlighted on the map with markers for pedestrian and cyclist access, boat ramps, landscaping, parking, children’s playground, event spaces, and art murals.
When clicking on a marker, participants see more details about that project element and can leave their feedback.
How to use Mapme to create your Public Project Feedback map
The Mapme platform makes it easy to create feedback maps. No coding or technical skills are needed.
Images or 3D models can be overlayed on the map to show the new project on the ground.
For each element in the project, you can include a description, photos, video, and a feedback call to action button.
The feedback map can easily be embedded on your website as well as shared on your social media and by email.