Design of a Support Tool for Citizens Engaging in Urban Planning Online

Date
2014-06-12
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
Online engagement in urban planning is accessible and convenient, but lacks face-to-face expert feedback and support. This research undertakes design of online support for lay citizens, to complement online participation environments. The design examines multiple planning strategy alternatives at various scales and perspectives. It calls for communication using visuals, examples, comparison, discussion of trade-offs, and providing for varied communication preferences. It calls for information specific to existing levels of cooperation and agreement, collective interests, values, and responsibilities, need for resource management, costs of strategies, and explicitly addressing value conflicts. A prototype is constructed using a selection of design components, then tested via online survey, and analysed quantitatively and qualitatively. Results indicate that users appreciated the information and features, and felt informed, confident, and more inclined to contribute to planning. It is concluded that the proposed solution can supplement missing support and feedback, should be further developed, and can be adopted.
Description
Keywords
Urban and Regional Planning
Citation
Bliss Taylor, C. (2014). Design of a Support Tool for Citizens Engaging in Urban Planning Online (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca. doi:10.11575/PRISM/25588