Collaborative Platforms in the Global South: The Case of Arquigrafia

Abstract

Rooted in historical, economic, and technological inequalities between Global North and South, digital inequality affects the born-digital contents and collaborative platforms. This study examines Arquigrafia (www.arquigrafia.org.br), a Brazilian collaborative platform for sharing architectural and urban space images, to explore similar platforms' challenges. The article examines Arquigrafia's technical and collaborative aspects within the Global South digital landscape, highlighting how the platform addresses infrastructural limitations and power imbalances. It demonstrates Arquigrafia's role in countering digital hegemonies while promoting cultural preservation in the South. Using data from Arquigrafia's database, we quantitatively analyzed users' characteristics and image uploads with MySQL and SPSS. Interviews with fifteen experts from various fields involved in the project were qualitatively analyzed, using the Affinity Diagram method to provide insights on the platform's evolution. Results show that the lack of user-provided information impedes personalized content delivery. Collaboration peaked in 2016 but declined afterwards. Interviews emphasize the need for collaboration in both content contribution and platform development. The study concludes that Arquigrafia needs a unified vision, improved collaboration, and sustainable maintenance. Recommendations suggest ways to enhance users' engagement, leveraging educational partnerships and adopting open-source models to ensure long-term success.