Cartografierea afectivă a teritoriului prin mijloace GIS
Affective mapping of the territory through GIS means

Author(s): Ioana Nirvana OLTEAN, Dragoş Horia Buhociu
Subject(s): Physical Geopgraphy, Human Geography, Regional Geography, Environmental Geography, Applied Geography, Geomatics, Social psychology and group interaction, Cognitive Psychology, Behaviorism
Published by: INCD URBAN-INCERC
Keywords: affective cartography; participatory GIS; bottom-up approach; community engagement; rhizomatic planning;
Summary/Abstract: This research explores the integration of the affective dimension into territorial planning as a way of rethinking the relationship between space, community, and emotion. Drawing on poststructuralist theories like Deleuze & Guattari and concepts such as rhizomatic thinking and the fold, the study understands rural and urban territories as living, hybrid, and relational structures, shaped by collective memory, affect, and social dynamics. The study employs a Participatory Geographic Information System (PGIS) as an innovative digital tool for affective mapping and public consultation in the initial stage of territorial planning. The developed application allows residents to express preferences, perceptions, and proposals directly on a shared digital map, generating an affective spatial database that complements traditional planning data. Quantitative results show significant variations in community engagement across the studied localities, with the highest level of interaction in Mărișel (almost 50%) and minimal participation in others. These findings demonstrate that the affective attachment to place influences the degree of public involvement and can reveal underlying economic, social and cultural dynamics. From a methodological standpoint, the research demonstrates that digital participatory tools can effectively support non-hierarchical and inclusive planning, where local knowledge and emotional experiences are recognized as valuable inputs for spatial decision-making. The PGIS platform enhances transparency, facilitates communication between local administrations and citizens, and supports data-driven yet empathetic territorial policies. In conclusion, affective cartography emerges as a promising interdisciplinary approach that bridges the gap between objective spatial data and the lived, emotional experience of space. By integrating affect into participatory planning, the study contributes to the development of more resilient, inclusive, and human-centered territorial policies.

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