CMap - Community Mapping Program; Motivating Communities & Young Minds Through Mapping
Written by Glenn Letham (GISuser editor)
22 August 2005
CMAP, originally developed by The Orton Family Foundation, sprouts from a desire to share the Institute for Technology Development's (ITD) knowledge and practical experiences with youth and their communities. ITD/CMaP was recently a Gold Sponsor for the ESRI Education Users Conference. They exhibited & attended the conference primarily to inform the education community about their new program model and to solicit sponsorship interest from hardware and software companies, imagery providers, and other federal agencies. CMAP is a great story about what 10 year olds can accomplish using GIS!
About the program... The Community Mapping Program (CMaP) provides youth with the tools and frameworks for active, place-based learning and community improvement. Students and their teachers - or youth groups and their leaders - form a partnership with a local community organization and work toward a comprehensive understanding and resolution of a social, economic or ecological issue.
Partners
Typical partner organizations include wildlife agencies, state parks, planning commissions and emergency services. The potential projects are equally diverse – as diverse as the locations, organizations and needs involved. In recent projects, students have:
• Created an informational brochure and signage for an interpretive nature trail • Planned, researched and organized an orienteering course • Mapped and identified wildlife in a forested area • Analyzed ski trail boundaries and grooming patterns • Mapped and analyzed the occurrence of nuisance bear sightings in a mountain town • Studied and mapped water quality, erosion, marshes and riparian settlements • Studied and mapped historic landscapes and settlements • Designed a town park trail system that attracted corporate donations of materials
Each of these investigations resulted in the planning and implementation of practical, cost-effective solutions, as well as the creation of public information materials such as displays, brochures, maps, databases and Web sites. Local residents and organizations alike recognized the students’ work for its thoroughness, sophistication and potential to create positive change.
Walking trails project in Carrollton, TX
A recent project involved a walking trails project in Carrollton, TX. In this 3 phased project students surveyed City green space and using GPS recorded student-chosen potential walking paths and facility (trash containers, picnic tables, water fountains, lights, security telephone call-boxes) locations. Students aggregated data-collected paths and generated a collective proposal which was presented to the Community. For more info see http://cfbstaff.cfbisd.edu/stevensk/2005_City_Presentations.htm
Trail Network SHP files created for the project
To date over 250 Community Mapping projects have been implemented in 10 states through a methodical model enhancement process. Our evaluations have already begun to show several statistically significant correlations between participating in CMaP and improved teacher engagement, use of local places, service learning and student stewardship behavior. The Institute for Technology Development is currently engaged in an aggressive action plan to bring the proven benefits of CMaP to more youth and communities nationwide.
About ITD Founded in 1983 and located at the Stennis Space Center in Mississippi, the Institute for Technology Development (ITD) conducts applied research and converts the results into marketable products or services. The primary technology focus of our non-profit organization is multispectral and hyperspectral imaging systems that benefit a wide range of industry sectors, from resource management and homeland security to medicine and food safety.
ITD's main office is located at NASA's John C. Stennis Space Center in Mississippi, with a satellite office located in Champaign, Illinois. CMaP's mission is, “Bringing youth and communities together to address local issues through mapping technologies where youth are inspired to learn and communities benefit.”
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Each of these investigations resulted in the planning and implementation of practical, cost-effective solutions, as well as the creation of public information materials such as displays, brochures, maps, databases and Web sites. Local residents and organizations alike recognized the students’ work for its thoroughness, sophistication and potential to create positive change. 
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