Improvement of Social impact assessment in infrastructure projects using participatory GIS

Social Impact Assessment (SIA) plays a critical role in ensuring that infrastructure projects are socially sustainable, inclusive, and responsive to the needs of affected communities. However, conventional SIA practices often suffer from inadequate stakeholder engagement, lack of transparency, and data gaps that limit their effectiveness. This study explores the integration of Participatory Geographic Information Systems (PGIS) as a means to enhance the scope and quality of SIA in infrastructure planning. The research is grounded in a detailed literature review and comparative analysis of five infrastructure case studies, including national examples from India (NH361 Upgradation and Nilambur Bypass) and international projects from Belarus, Sri Lanka, and Malaysia. The findings highlight the limitations of traditional SIAs in addressing community concerns, and demonstrate how PGIS tools—through participatory mapping, spatial data visualization, and real time feedback mechanisms—can improve stakeholder involvement, data accuracy, and social accountability. A PGIS based framework is proposed, focusing on community centered engagement, digital grievance redressal, mobile based monitoring, and data privacy protocols. The study concludes that integrating PGIS into SIA processes not only enhances transparency and trust but also leads to more inclusive planning and better project outcomes. This approach holds significant potential for policymakers, planners, and project authorities committed to sustainable and socially just infrastructure development.