GIS Implementation in Malaysian Statutory Development Plan System

The chapter presents the current state of GIS implementation in Malaysian development plan system. It offers an overview of GIS implementation worldwide, touching briefly on the history of GIS, planners’ early acceptance of the system, factors that promote GIS implementation, level of usage among planners, and factors that impede successful GIS implementation. At the end, the chapter provides a comparison between the state of GIS implementation in Malaysian statutory development plan system with the state of GIS implementation worldwide. The evidence was derived from three main sources: literature, empirical observation of GIS implementation in Malaysia, and a survey conducted in 2008.

E-Planning Applications in Turkish Local Governments

This chapter examines the pivotal relationship between e-planning applications and their organizational context. It employs various evaluation frameworks by searching explicit and implicit structures behind the implementation process. The study is largely based on the statement that ‘the organizational and user dimension of implementation factors more than technical ones, constitute the main obstacles to the improvement of e-planning tools in urban planning agencies’. The empirical part of the study scrutinizes the personal and situational factors of users in the process of implementation, benefits and constraints of an e-planning implementation and planning practitioners’ perception of new technologies on urban planning practice and debate. Using a case study research in Turkish local governments, the findings of this study reveal that the organizational and human aspects of high order information systems are still the biggest obstacle in the implementation process.

E-Planning

This chapter discusses the security risks and management implications for the use of information technology to manage urban and regional planning and development processes. The advancement in GIS technology and planning support systems has provided the opportunity for planning agencies to adopt innovative processes to aid and improve decision-making. Although studies show that a number of impediments to the widespread adoption these technologies exist, emerging trends point to opportunities for the integration of planning supporting systems with various models to help estimate urban growth, environmental, economic and social impact, as well as to facilitate participatory planning. At the same time, information security infrastructure and security preparedness of most public agencies lag behind vulnerabilities. Drawing on the literature on planning, e-planning and information security, the author argues that the emergence of e-planning as an efficient approach to urban planning and development also poses enormous security challenges that need to be managed to ensure integrity, confidentiality and availability of critical planning information for decision-making.

ICTs and Participation in Developing Cities

Developing cities are experiencing substantial gaps in urban planning. They are due to approaches and instruments that do not correspond to the realities of the developing city including the prevalence of informal sector and slums, urban governance problem, and few resources. Information and communication technologies (ICTs) now offer enormous possibilities to use information flows, communication, and land-use models better. ICTs offer solutions that take greater account of informal activities, enable discussions with civil society and Internet forums to take place, etc. ICTs can enhance the planning of developing cities, if conditions are right. The chapter provides a review of the situation in developing cities. It analyses the challenges and potential of using ICTs to improve urban planning. Lastly, it puts forward key conditions for the successful and relevant implementation of ICTs in order to create the best conditions for real technological added value.

Integrating ICT into Sustainable Local Policies

This chapter analyses the Information and Communication Technologies (hereafter referred to as ICT) phenomenon, the opportunities it offers, the potential problems, and the relationship with local policies. It moves on the actions needed to develop, within the Agenda 21 process, a framework able to define some fundamental features for a new spatial theory in the information age, which will eventually consider Information and Communication Technology not just a simple tool, but a crucial aspect of a sustainable policy, capable, if well addressed, to mitigate various current or emerging territorial challenges such as literacy and education, public participation in the planning process, social and geographical divide, institutional transparency, etc.. This chapter will illustrate a framework able to assist politicians and planners in planning a sustainable development through ICT.

RFID in Urban Planning

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is a significant emerging technology that enables the automation of numerous applications globally. Professions, businesses and industries have integrated this technology into their procedures and it has resulted in great advances in the accuracy of data, operational efficiencies, logistical enhancements and other process improvements. This chapter discusses the application of RFID technology to support the needs and requirements within the realm of urban planning. First, the historic and technical background behind RFID is reviewed. Illustrative examples of its use are presented. Next, the technology’s potential is explored in terms of a practical tool for urban planners. Consequently, issues and challenges associated with RFID are identified and considerations to be made when applying the technology are offered. Finally, the outlook for RFID technology is examined as an instrument in urban development and the expected exponential growth of the technology is discussed.

Public Participation in E-Government

Singapore’s E-government model is considered to be among the best in the world. Over the past decade the Singapore government has constantly developed and re-developed its on-line presence. International comparisons have consistently rated Singapore as one of the most advanced E-government nations. However, despite significant progress towards full E-government maturity, some issues of full public participation remain. It is these issues which this chapter discusses. In particular, it will consider the ways in which a digital divide within the Singapore model has emerged, despite specific policies to address such a problem.

The Role of Local Agencies in Developing Community Participation in E-Government and E-Public Services

This chapter discusses the way in which understanding of participation in e-services has evolved through a social learning process within planning and implementation processes. The chapter traces the development of methodologies, partnerships and design constituencies in pilot projects that inform the development of inclusive e-services. It draws on case studies of e-services between 1995 and 2009 to show how planning processes become embedded in cycles of learning and development. E-services involve change in services as well socio-technological change and relate to change in forms of participation. This has led to the development of partnerships to plan and implement e-services and to the development of research and design methodologies that foster participation in the design and use of e-services.

The E-Citizen in Planning

Municipalities that plan have both a legal obligation and a professional directive to incorporate citizens into the planning process, but garnering sufficient and diverse citizen participation is often a struggle. Online participation tools as a component of e-government provide a potential venue for enhancing the participation process. However, e-government participation raises challenges pertaining to trust, exclusion, and responsiveness. This chapter contributes to the understanding of these issues by analyzing how municipalities in the U.S. view the e-participant. The analysis is based on an ongoing longitudinal study that examines planning department web sites for U.S. cities with 2000 census populations of 50,000 or more. The authors’ findings highlight respondents’ views of online tools as a means to further efficiency and citizen satisfaction, rather than as a means by which to potentially enhance discussion of community issues.

Planners Support of E-Participation in the Field of Urban Planning

The chapter questions what planners really mean when they display positive attitudes toward increased citizen participation via ICTs? Are they aiming for change or the reinforcement of existing values and practices? What are the assumptions that underlie and condition the explicit support for e-participation? In addressing these questions, this chapter draws upon a survey mapping the support for e-participation in the field of urban planning, targeting the heads of the planning departments in all Swedish local governments in 2006. The results show confusing or conflicting attitudes among planners towards participation, supporting as well as challenging the classic normative theories of participatory democracy and communicative planning.