What Is Spatial Justice? Definition & Examples

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) should be an inherent part of equity analysis that organizations conduct for departments. Organizations must be data-driven with data segregated by race, examine how resources are distributed, and ensure resources are fairly distributed. This includes creating tools that allow staff to intentionally slow down decision-making and policy drafting to center those most impacted by racial disparities. GIS enables spatial analysis of disparities and targeted interventions across all services provided to constituents.

A comprehensive best practices framework for using GIS in equity and social justice work encompasses five key areas—spatial data management, geospatial analytical practices, cartographic practices, visualization practices, and the complete life cycle of analysis—from identifying inequality through geo-statistical analysis, to testing program concepts with spatial alternatives, informing stakeholders via geospatial portals, and generating performance metrics; this systematic approach ensures GIS work is effective, repeatable, and grounded in sound science while enabling professionals to support practitioners new to GIS for equity work.

GIS technology can advance equity and social justice when practitioners center community knowledge, recognize that race and place are structurally determined by racist policies rather than individual failings, and move beyond territorial acknowledgments to implement concrete disruptive changes that address systemic racism through geospatial analysis and community engagement.

GIS serves as a powerful tool for advancing equity in nonprofit work by providing systematic approaches to identifying and addressing inequality. The framework involves using GIS data to understand community needs and how those needs relate to underlying demographics, social, racial, and socioeconomic factors. This enables more equitable resource allocation to areas in greatest need and better understanding of how to reach communities using accessible mediums including language considerations and transportation access. The GIS for Racial Equity hub provides resources for engaging communities, mapping equity issues, operationalizing racial equity initiatives, and managing performance outcomes. Built on ArcGIS Hub, this platform offers data, inspiration, and applications shared by the broader GIS community, enabling nonprofits to leverage collective expertise in advancing equity-focused spatial analysis and decision-making.

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology enables organizations to analyze community data spatially and take both a spatial lens (understanding how community resources and conditions impact people) and an equity lens (considering how decisions impact different groups based on race, gender, socioeconomic status, and other identities). ESRI, a global leader in geospatial technology, enables organizations in 160 countries to use GIS for increasing success and equity. Demographic data includes socioeconomic, spending, and behavioral information at multiple geographic levels, down to the block group level (representing about 1,500 people or 600 households). Maps serve as powerful tools to bridge the gap between data and decision-makers, with color choices mattering because humans are programmed to react to certain colors (green for positive, red for danger). Geographic analysis can help identify where resources are needed most, such as mapping areas where veterans are not within 45 minutes of VA hospitals. This type of analysis helps organizations deploy resources effectively, such as determining where to place safety checks or fencing based on actual risk patterns rather than assumptions. Geographic data can track numerous community indicators including tree density and carbon sequestration, population to open space ratios, parking availability, population density, access to public transportation, storm response times, and crime patterns. This data supports climate action plans, future development decisions, and resource allocation. Geographic analysis can also help address insurance cost disparities, particularly in wildland-urban interface areas where insurance costs are increasing. GIS technology enables crime analysis by tracking where and when crimes occur, helping law enforcement identify patterns and solve cases. Beyond crime tracking, GIS supports positive community policing by overlaying community segments with significant youth populations to strategically place officers for relationship-building. Geographic analysis can also track health conditions in relation to environmental factors such as proximity to freeways, tree canopy coverage, and heat index.

Gentrification is a systematic process in place for decades in northeastern US cities, designed to push Black people out of inner-city communities. While displacement may not be as severe as in 1963, it has not significantly improved. The process involves creating spaces where Black communities are no longer seen, achieved through increased property values, displacement of long-term residents, and conversion of public spaces to private control.

Gentrification is the process by which urban areas become more expensive, displacing existing residents who cannot afford the rising costs. Estefanía Veloz described how Mexico City faces a housing crisis with gentrification driven by events like the World Cup, which increases demand for housing and drives up rents. The concept suggests that urban development policies should prioritize protecting existing residents from displacement while still allowing for urban improvement. This involves balancing economic development with social equity and housing affordability.

The Condesa neighborhood exemplifies gentrification, with expensive housing, parks, cafes, and tourists or foreigners working remotely. The Roma neighborhood gentrified after the film 'Roma' (2018), with housing searches increasing 50% for sale and 35% for rental between August 2018 and January 2019. Luxury rental housing includes 20 m² apartments for approximately 18,000 pesos (over 1,600 euros) and 60-70 m² apartments for 35,000-40,000 pesos. An estimated 90,000 foreigners reside in Mexico City under the digital nomad concept, with spending potentially exceeding 1 billion dollars annually. It is estimated that 20,000 families were expelled from Mexico City due to unaffordable housing. Workers earning one or two minimum wages are forced to move to nearby municipalities or other states.

Gentrification functions as modern colonialism with better branding, displacing poor residents to make neighborhoods 'nicer' while removing authentic communities. Economic statistics show improvement because poor people are no longer counted. This process mirrors colonial resource extraction. The left's failure includes being too academic and stuffy, while effective communicators break down complex issues accessibly. Building alliances between working class and middle class against wealthy elites is essential, as both groups face destruction without coalition.

Tourism accounted for over 60% of Bali's GDP in 2019, completely changing life for native residents. The sons and daughters of fishermen and farmers have been forced to break century-long traditions. In Canggu, land prices rose 400-600% in 15 years, making it unaffordable for locals. The digital nomad communities continue expanding, pushing people off the island entirely. The glass elevator project at Kelly King Beach cost over $15 million before being torn down after protests. This represents a classic case of gentrification where rising costs force out original residents while foreign owners profit.

Participatory Budgeting (PB) is a democratic process that enables citizens to directly decide how public money is spent, typically involving steps such as design and inclusion, idea generation, deliberation, voting, and implementation. PB processes can be conducted online, in-person, or as a hybrid, and are designed to be fair, inclusive, participatory, deliberative, empowering, creative, flexible, transparent, and part of democracy. The key benefits include community building, better solutions through collective knowledge, and increased trust in political decision-making. Successful PB planning requires defining clear goals, considering scale and accessibility, ensuring diverse participation, and establishing feedback loops to maintain community engagement throughout the process.

Participatory budgeting is a democratic process where citizens and authorities collaboratively decide how to allocate public resources, enabling communities to identify problems, propose solutions, and actively participate in building a common future; this process is mandated by Peruvian law (Ley Orgánica de Participación Ciudadana and Código Orgánico de Ordenamiento Territorial, Autonomía y Descentralización) and involves citizens, social organizations, and decentralized autonomous governments in the decision-making process.

Participatory budgeting by results is not merely another piece of the budgetary framework but should be the key component in the planning process. It must fit precisely within the overall budget and continuously feedback into the entire planning process. This creates a dynamic relationship where participatory budgeting both receives input from and contributes to the broader planning system.

Planning can incorporate participatory budgeting processes that give communities more agency and decision-making power. This approach mimics processes around enfranchisement and decision-making around funding. The goal is to give communities more power and decision-making, while also building consensus and helping people understand others' perspectives.

The Planning section must: (1) Explain what participatory planning and participatory budgeting are; (2) Show how citizens can participate in these processes; (3) Identify the stages of participatory budgeting; (4) Provide interactive channels for participation; (5) Publish the percentage of budget available for participatory budgeting; (6) Show decisions made regarding prioritized projects; (7) Publish advances on implementation of participatory plans.