Elicit local knowledge with LOUPE
I have conceptualized and developed LOUPE as an application for conducting Public Participation Geographic Information System (PPGIS) studies and citizen science. Whilst the former typically involves (one-off) mapping-based surveys on personal preferences or perceptions of environmental qualities with respect to a specific problem and space, the latter often concerns broader thematic scopes and often requires a more-systematic data collection within larger areas.
As a tool, LOUPE is positioned in the middle of these two approaches. It is designed to allow (one-off) surveying of citizen preferences and perceptions across diverse themes and research interests, including spatially explicit mapping exercises, however, within a given topic or for a particular research question, based on a framework that stipulates a focused, trait-based and thus systematic, iterative or repeated mapping and surveying.

LOUPE seeks to invite respondents to share their knowledge repeatedly at different locations, i.e., across a city region, within different neighbourhoods, across a single green space, and/or over time.
In so doing, the spatial variability of citizen perceptions and preferences towards qualities of urban greenery and urban spaces shall be uncovered, and thereby, their role in shaping use intentions and use behaviour of citizens in appropriating public urban (green) spaces be investigated. Furthermore, this shall facilitate the establishment of citizen-based monitoring approaches, thus facilitating gathering time-series data.
LOUPE is developed as a responsive, mobile-first application, leveraging, e.g., geolocation or media stream browser APIs. Based on a device’s location, LOUPE uses geofencing to make surveys and mapping exercises available to users. Thereby, LOUPE allows tailoring surveys and mapping activities to locations and spatial scales as needed. Comparable to other PPGIS and questionnaire tools, LOUPE features various items such as closed and open-ended questions, multiple choice questions, Likert scales, photo upload, and more.
What is it good for?
Citizens may not only act as beneficiaries of benefits provided by nature, but also as knowledge holders regarding local conditions in the broadest sense. Tapping into this body of knowledge, e.g., through citizen science and/or participatory mapping approaches, is considered crucial for achieving resilient, sustainable, and locally relevant as well as more widely accepted nature-based solutions that promote human health and well-being.
What is the context?
Traits are understood as aggregate features of individual elements of the green-blue infrastructure, including, e.g., spatial, structural, functional, sensory, institutional or contextual qualities. In line with the social-ecological traits concept, these characteristics are seen to shape human experiences, knowledge and affordances, thus linking qualities of urban nature with ecosystem services and therefore, potential (co-)benefits.