The Shape of Public Engagement - Participatory Mapping: New Data, New Cartography - page 139

8.2.1. Self-expression versus opening of the data
A number of heterogeneous profiles were involved in
shaping the radiation maps (see Table 6.1), including
companies (search engines, communication agencies),
designers, Web developers, scientists and anonymous
individuals. This heterogeneity can be explained by the fact
that a wide array of different skills normally scattered over
different experts, became particularly relevant to make
radiation maps in the face of the lack of information on the
radiation status. The expertise required included information
design, data extraction and analysis as well as publishing.
However, as a consequence of the diversity of the profiles
involved, there was a discrepancy in the objectives of the
maps as they could be used as much as a way of informing
relatives, of showing one's skills in processing and displaying
the data, of enhancing the visibility of a website. The diversity
of goals associated with producing the maps makes it difficult
to implement uniform data-sharing infrastructure.
Furthermore, if radiation maps were created out of an
altruistic desire to provide visualizations of the radiation,
this was not necessarily devoid of personal interests. Indeed,
map production and the whole process preceding it, may
have been a way for the participants to put forward their
skills. As the moment in which Marian Steinbach was “[…]
specializing as a self-employed information designer in the
data visualization field” 14 coincided with the disaster of
March 11, 2011, he claims that the possibility to present his
skills in the field through this case study had a direct
influence on his motivation. In his words:
“[…] attribution was a motivation for me as well,
and it is also pretty nice to see that your website
hits increased like they never did before, because
14 Interview with Marian Steinbach, August 25, 2011.