Integrating Participatory Mapping into Urban Governance: opening data in Ostrava, Czechia

Abstract. Participatory mapping has emerged as a powerful approach for integrating citizen perspectives into urban planning and decision-making processes. This paper reflects on eight years of participatory mapping efforts conducted in Ostrava, Czech Republic, where over 8,000 respondents contributed more than 70,000 spatial responses. The study outlines the methodology and tools used to process and publish this collected data as open datasets via web-based solutions built with ArcGIS Online technology. The paper discusses the main challenges and solutions for modern open data publishing strategies that ensure attribute consistency, understandable data visualisation, and user-friendly access to various datasets. By developing a unified attribute data model and implementing advanced filtering, visualisation, and export possibilities, the open data initiative improves accessibility. It encourages greater community engagement not only in urban planning. This strategy highlights the importance of participatory mapping as an essential tool for producing open and actionable spatial data and promoting transparent, inclusive governance in the 21st century, as specified in SDGs goal 11.