Evolution cartographique et participation publique. Un prototype de cartes multimédias pour la gestion de l'eau

This article examines the evolution of cartography in relationship to a changing social and technological environment. It does so by examining a specific case: the design of a multimedia map prototype intended to improve public participation in water management. In the first part of the article, I describe the specific purpose of this prototype criterion. To evaluate whether this specific purpose could in fact be fulfill, this prototype was presented to a variety of local stakeholders involved in the water management process. Their reactions to the prototype are presented and discussed in the second part. In general, the results confirm the potential of multimedia maps to facilitate the comprehension of the spatial phenomena. More specifically, however, the results presented here suggest that the construction of maps must continue to evolve so that they can serve as an effective tool for fostering public participation. MOTS-CLÉS : Cartographie multimédia, participation publique, gestion de l’eau, recherche appliquée, Acteurs locaux.