Versatility

This chapter defines the Versatility of rural communities as their capacity to access their vital capital and cope with their vulnerabilities. It starts by explaining how and why the concept of Versatility relates to capital assets of rural communities on the one hand and to the Vitality and vulnerabilities on the other. It then defines Versatility as the capacity to mobilise resources and assets that rely on the vitality of rural communities and address their vulnerabilities. This, however, requires proper measurements and detection of the assets and resources. Remote sensing is one of the techniques to do this. Yet, while remote sensing primarily detects physical objects, such as natural resources, infrastructure and built-up areas, referred to as tangible versatility, resources also consist of institutional capacities, knowledge and experience, referred to as intangible versatility. Measuring, detecting and fostering intangible versatility primarily requires statistical data, direct observations and interactions, and remote-sensing proxies. Gradually, generative AI and collaborative intelligence are additional options to support this.