Using Technology to Enhance Public Participation in Urban Planning

Abstract

In order to develop an understanding of the best use of information and telecommunication technology to support public participation process, this paper examines the technological movement, public participation processes and aware planners about the existing technologies for planning. Finally it concludes with an outline of a how to use technology to typical type of participatory process to enhance public participation. In the modern age, a majority of world’s population prefer to live in urban areas. According to United Nations projection released in February 2008, half of the world’s population was living in urban areas at the end of 2008 and about 70 percent will be living in cities by 2050 with the biggest growth in cities and towns in Asia and Africa. The United States 2000 Census population showed that 79 percent of the total U.S population was living in urban areas and the overall population was projected to grow by 100 million by 2040. This situation creates an immense responsibility for urban planners. Urban planner will require unprecedented effort to engage communities and stakeholders in planning new buildings and infrastructure. Development of information and telecommunication technology, particularly the Internet and modern planning software, provide planners with tools to engage and facilitate public participation in planning process. In past, planning support system research has shown the importance of application of technology in planning process but there has been little work to educate practitioner about available technologies and how to create a technology centered participatory process according to their working need.