Open Green Map first appeared on this blog as a NetSquared Featured N2Y3 project, and has never lost touch with us. They have been regularly contributing to the Net2 blog, they have also won our last Invitational -- Net2AllStar. We are honoured to be witnessing social change exemplified by our star. We are also proud to say that we played a part in the OGM big success.

Read this interview with Green Map System's founder, Wendy Brawer to learn how this social mapping project has grown and expanded, and how a vivid Open Green Map community was built. If you haven’t watched the winning video, find it on the bottom of the post.

Wendy -- thank you for answering all these questions in such an interesting and elaborate way.  Dear community -- enjoy the read!

Q: First of all, congrats on the prize! I would like to ask you why did you decide to participate in the challenge?

We enjoyed taking part in N2N3 back in 2008 and it certainly accelerated our trajectory. When the Net2 Invitational offered this unique showcase, we were excited to share our progress, especially with the potential of reaching new audiences and accomplishing more in 2012. 

Q: One questions about the video -- it is obviously a great and winning one, but is there anything that you would do differently (or repeat) the next time you tell your story via film medium? How did you find the entire experience?

The breezy spirit of the Invitational made the video quick and easy to complete. I could have added the definition - a locally-made map that uses Green Map Icons to highlight nature, culture and sustainable living resources. I could have shared some exciting plans and raised the quality of the video, as well. 

It’s a great feeling to take Open Green Map to the next level along with being a Net2 All Star.

Q: How did this all start? When and how the idea of creating Open Green Map came to your mind, and why did you decide to give it a go?

The concept of a shared mapmaking platform came up on March 25, 1995, literally on Day One of the global Green Map movement. I was with the O2 Global eco-designers network and we had plugged in a modem for the very first time to consider how we could use this new medium as a vehicle for social change. I had already created NYC’s original Green Maps and knew a locally-led sustainability mapmaking movement could be connected via a universal  iconography. The Internet transformed the concept’s potential and we all pitched in, full of creative energy fueled by our love of home and planet. 

I registered the domain (and got my first email address!), then began developing the network of empowered local leaders, the globally designed iconography, adaptable framework and tools. The process of involving diverse communities in making Green Maps got underway - the outcomes included beautifully designed printed folding maps, web maps, murals, tours, performances, events, books and businesses. We collected and shared the experiences of the map teams, which are led by diverse city agencies and established NPOs, grassroots and youth groups, universities and social entrepreneurs. The Green Map movement started to snowball, and by Year 2000, we had topped the 100 project milestone, promoted dozens of map debuts and received nonprofit status. 

Developing the database-driven shared mapping resource took a back seat until there was an easy and familiar tool for the users of the maps, flexible open source content management tools, and a critical mass of Green Map teams who were, by then, clamouring for a social mapping platform. Merging local knowledge, Green Map Icons, Google Map and Drupal became our goal. Discovery, design, development ensued in 2006. 

First, we needed to firm up our structure, so we rebuilt GreenMap.org as a content managed registration, presentation and tool center. Then, we updated our icons for the third time - this is the set you see on Open Green Maps. Then, our team dug in with our network’s wishlist, a handful of crowdseeds and foundation grants and a burgeoning array of new location-based and collaborative apps to learn from.

We were really fortunate to meet Thomas Turnbull, who became our lead developer out of the blue. Risa Ishikawa and Akiko Rokube were involved from the design – user experience angle and Carlos Martinez worked on the social side of the equation. There’s actually a huge list of people who were involved from ‘06-09 as we moved toward the launch - many of these folks worked for little or no pay to make it happen. Many are still advising us or creating maps as we work with Openflows on the platform’s ongoing development.  

Q: Who forms the Open Green Map Community?

Mapmakers wanted a quick, low cost way to share their findings online. The community varies greatly, so we considered the needs of the City of Cape Town’s sustainability division gearing up to host the FIFA World Cup Games, a volunteer network in small town Romania, Harlem’s green faith network, and many others. Like Baltimore Green Map, many create both printed and interactive editions to reach different sectors in the community. 

We now have about 250 Green Maps on the platform. You can sort the maps by the maker, and get a sense of who is behind them. We’ve linked their profile alongside each map (under the Info tab), and all the Open Green Maps are crosslinked on a list and on a map as well. 

Really, our community includes the local teams of Green Mapmakers, everyone who uses the maps, and each of the 19,000+ sites on the platform to date. Your recognition is sure to significantly expand each of these stakeholder groups!

Q: It is not only about “green”, is it? Green Map provides information on cultural and social sites too. How did you expand your initial vision?

Back in 1995 when Green Map System got started, the focus was on cities. Copenhagen, Kyoto, Montreal, Buenos Aires, Adelaide and of course, NYC were among the first. Cities mix everything together, so environment, culture and sustainable living were in the iconography at the heart of the movement from the git-go. The social aspect became stronger in 1998, influenced by participants at a conference in Havana on the ethics and culture of sustainable development. Rural and youth sensibilities were reflected in the Green Map Icon update of 1999. 

The iconography is a trend barometer, evolving with our understanding of sustainability, and informed by the locally designed icons that several Green Map teams have added to print maps. We’re starting to work toward adding a theme mapping component to Open Green Map. As it’s such a popular gateway, additional icons signifying the local food movement will be the first created, with climate justice, social innovation, ecotourism, energy and other themes on the list.

You can explore Open Green Map’s sites by the icon with your mobile and quickly compare their attributes. Or, from the desktop, open any site, tap its title and then Connections tab to compare related sites, near and far.

Q: How is it to work with an international audience in 60 countries?

The synergy of working together is really rather magical, as we all share so many feelings about our common future and inspire one another. Someday, it would be amazing to bring us all together to see what we can do. We had a taste of this back in 2002 at the first Global Gathering at the Bellagio Center, with 22 of us from 14 countries. We’ve had numerous regional and national gatherings, but our idea of setting up a Green Map Lab for a month or so and working together with waves of Mapmakers on a variety of much-needed tools and processes is a distant dream. 

Actually, we’d love to open up the Open Green Map tools more broadly and work with many different developers, innovators and supporters. We want to make the platform’s data interoperable so it can be utilized with different GIS tools, edited offline and shared in open and mobile collaborations, and more. 

The really important thing about these maps is how they bring overwhelming global crises down to the local level where the individual can do something about them. I always felt that way and recently read this, underscoring the urgency of our mission:

“The less people know about important complex issues such as the economy, energy consumption and the environment, the more they want to avoid becoming well-informed, according to new research published by the American Psychological Association. And the more urgent the issue, the more people want to remain unaware, according to a paper published online in APA’s Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.”    

Q: How are you promoting the tool?

Entering competitions is a great way to get the word out. Green Map System has been recognized by 23 international and regional competitions and there are many local Green Map project awards as well. It’s part of exhibits and presentations, from 140edu to Crisis Mappers international, as well as workshops worldwide.

There are upwards of 5 million copies of 500 different printed Green Maps spreading the word, attracting new Green Mapmakers and map users all the time. The Open Green Maps are great promotion, whether embedded in other websites or explored on the mobile app.

Oh yes, there’s Twitter, Facebook, Youtube - we’ve created a number of short videos to promote OGM and help people participate and add site suggestions, multimedia, comments and ratings. 

One of our 2012 promotion goals is about reaching each mapped site’s patrons and encouraging them to enhance the listing with their own viewpoints, images and impact assessments. This could be done with a widget for the site’s own website or with QR codes, etc. Perhaps a reader of this blog will want to pitch in?

Q: How is the mobile use of your app expected to grow and change over time, and how does it affect the traditional web approach?

Having a mobile website that’s more agile will help us go a long way toward reaching audiences in diverse communities. We’d love to see that happen!

Data collection can already be done by tapping GreenMap.org on the go, but it’s very basic - we want to make this more robust as all the features of our mobile website and iPhone app are improved. As part of exploring ways to make the tool more open, we want to make the data more widely available, while providing a financial base for the continued growth of Green Map System. We also have some offshoot concepts we’d like to explore as they will accelerate meaningful, measurable sustainable and social actions.

Q: What features and enhancements are you currently working on?

As described throughout, we’re open to exploring new directions, partnerships, issues and monetizing models. We're looking for people who have ideas and are interested in helping chart a strategic path so we can support more local leaders and help more communities make progress toward a more resilient, healthier and culturally rich future. 

Q: Excuse my nosiness, but... What will you do with the 500 USD that you have been granted as the Net2 All Star?

Your $500 will fund the planning, promotion and event - a roundtable on Open Green Map going more open and interoperable. We would like your help! Let us know if you would like to be involved and we’ll respond with more details in the near future.