Evaluating Data Availability in the Development of Socio-Environmental Cartographies of Mass Housing Estates

Abstract This study analyses the potential use of digital spatial data in the socio-environmental diagnosis of post-war housing estates and in the development of participatory cartography that engages local communities in the mapping process. The main objective of the study is to assess the availability, scope, and quality of data provided through open-access resources in Krakow and Barcelona, as well as to determine their usefulness in developing socio-environmental maps of post-war housing complexes. The comparative analysis reveals differences in the level of digitization, interoperability, and detail of the information, and identifies barriers that hinder the full use of data in diagnostics related to public health, energy efficiency, and environmental quality. The article highlights the importance of formal and legal conditions governing the sharing of spatial data in the context of the European Union’s open data policy. The findings emphasize the potential of public data repositories as a key tool supporting participatory planning, expert processes, and the building of dialogue with residents.