<p>There is an increasing interest in the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in a participatory context, with this development either causing alarm or being seen as providing a potentially valuable tool. The key reasons behind this have already been given in issue 33 of PLA Notes (Abbot et al., 1998). This article explores some of the benefits and concerns of using GIS as a participatory tool, using a case study to provide real-life context. It is mainly concerned with key issues that have been identified during the work1.</p>
<p>This article is included in the PLA 39: Participatory Communication edition of PLA Notes produced by IIED.</p>