Using a digital participatory platform to evaluate public space quality

Decision-making processes in the planning, designing, and maintenance of public spaces still overwhelmingly do not allow for sufficient articulation and consideration of the needs and aspirations of local residents. Recent research shows that digital tools can facilitate social participation and allow stakeholders to voice and discuss their perceptions of public space usage. However, apart from legal challenges, limited budgets and digital literacy frequently constrain the use of digital information technology to such ends. This paper demonstrates how a novel digital participatory platform (DPP) named AMACHAN supports an in-situ public space quality evaluation in two Mexican cities. We evaluated the quality of six public spaces with local residents in the cities of Puebla and Mexico City. We also investigated what benefit and potential the involved government and other relevant stakeholders see in integrating a public space quality evaluation using a DPP into their work processes for public space management. Among government practitioners, we observed limited knowledge of implementing a public space evaluation using a DPP and spatial data. We provide insights into overcoming such challenges and demonstrate that bottom-up approaches motivate residents to use a DPP when they see that the data they contribute is discussed among decision-makers.