February 2024

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What is an inclusive city?

Reconfiguring participation in planning with geospatial photovoice to unpack experiences of urban belonging among marginalised communities.

By Sofie Burgos-Thorsen, Sabine Niederer & Anders Koed Madsen

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Originally published in the Visual Studies journal, this paper showcases how visual research, particularly through the use of photovoice, can be used to bring attention to the perspectives of marginalised or overlooked groups in society.

Photovoice traditionally relies on photography as a means for individuals to express their views, typically outside the usual written or spoken methods of public engagement. However, there has been a gap in integrating this approach with digital and spatial technologies to enhance its effectiveness, especially in understanding urban issues through geographical analysis and structured data collection.

The project, "Urban Belonging," addresses this by introducing a new tool, the UB App. This app was utilized in a study focusing on seven marginalised communities in Copenhagen, including ethnic minorities, deaf individuals, homeless people, the physically disabled, those with mental health challenges, LGBTQ+ individuals, and expatriates. The study collected 1459 geotagged photographs, which were then analysed with the help of the participants. This process revealed distinct patterns of how different groups experience a sense of belonging in the city. It also highlighted the diverse ways these groups perceive specific places, presenting a complex picture of varying views on belonging.

This approach not only integrates Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and digital methods into photovoice but also broadens the method's scope. It allows for a blend of qualitative and quantitative analysis, combining grassroots and broader perspectives on data, and facilitates both traditional demographic and more modern, nuanced ways of organising community participation.