Collaborative GIS for sustainable waste management: the case of Ulaanbaatar in 3R4UB

Abstract

The paper is included in the international project “The 3Rs for a sustainable use of natural resources in Ulaanbaatar - 3R4UB”, which develops an innovative method to enhance collaboration between citizens and public authorities in sustainable waste management. Ulaanbaatar (UB), the capital of Mongolia, faces serious challenges due to rapid urbanisation and fragmented planning that lacks tools to integrate social, environmental, and infrastructural dynamics. The city is divided into three areas: the planned city (Soviet legacy), the spontaneous city (the informal settlements of the “gher”), and the city in transition (between planned and spontaneous city).

The research proposes the “Ulaanbaatar Spatial Sustainable Waste Management” (UBSWM) approach, which includes spatialising data and information based on GIS tools. The combination of quantitative data (e.g., the number of infrastructures and waste streams) and qualitative data (photographic reportage and awareness-raising strategies in schools) facilitated a multi-scalar narrative of urban dynamics, enhancing the cultural diversity of UB. The results obtained, including an open-access platform on ArcGIS StoryMaps, offer a replicable model to address the challenges of sustainable waste management in similar urban contexts, promoting collaborative planning of more sustainable and equitable public spaces. The study is guided by the research question: How can a spatial and collaborative GIS-based approach support circular and sustainable waste management in transitional urban contexts such as Ulaanbaatar?