PhD Defence Aji Putra Perdana | Participatory Toponym Handling | Preserving Local Names in Indonesia

Participatory Toponym Handling | Preserving Local Names in Indonesia

Aji Putra Perdana is a PhD student in the department Department of Geo-information Processing. (Co)Promotors are prof.dr. M.J. Kraak and dr. F.O. Ostermann from the faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation. 

Participatory Toponym Handling: Preserving Local Names in Indonesia investigates the development of a Participatory Toponym Handling (PTH) framework to preserve local geographical names (toponyms) in Indonesia. The study addresses gaps in traditional toponym handling approaches by incorporating citizen participation and fostering collaboration among diverse stakeholders, including government agencies, researchers, non-governmental organizations, and local communities.

The research objectives are threefold: to assess the current state and challenges of toponym handling, to develop a generic PTH framework tailored to the Indonesian context, and to implement and evaluate this framework in practical projects. The methodology encompasses literature reviews, stakeholder analyses, and participatory projects conducted in Indonesia. These projects engaged citizens through mobile applications, workshops, and community-driven surveys to collect and enrich toponymic information.

The findings demonstrate the substantial contribution of citizen participation to the enhancement of toponymic datasets by incorporating cultural, historical, and linguistic insights. The PTH framework effectively facilitated collaborative learning and knowledge exchange among stakeholders. However, the study also identified challenges, including legal and organizational barriers, data quality assurance, and participant engagement sustainability.

This research significantly contributes by developing and testing a scalable PTH framework adapted to Indonesia’s diverse cultural and geographical contexts. It provides recommendations for integrating citizen science into policies for toponym preservation and highlights the potential of digital tools and platforms in modernizing toponym handling processes. Future research directions include exploring technology-driven approaches for participatory mapping, expanding the framework's applicability to other regions and contexts, and developing policy recommendations to institutionalize citizen science within national geospatial strategies. By emphasizing the preservation of intangible cultural heritage through participatory and inclusive methodologies, this study establishes a precedent for similar initiatives in other contexts worldwide.