Participatory Mapping of the Geography of Risk

Risk Perceptions of Children and Adolescents in Two Portuguese Towns

Abstract

This study identifies, characterizes, and represents children’s and adolescents’ perceptions of urban risks, using participatory mapping and Participatory Geographic Information Systems. Children and youth identified risks and georeferenced themusing tools like CyberTracker, Google Earth and Google Mapsembedded in a website. Data analysis showed that risk situations identified by the participants are real and concreteconcerns, contextualized in their daily lives.This kind of study can be a starting point for community joint actions that include young people to help solve problems—from policy reviews, to effective structural and design changes, to general awareness-raising.