USING VIDEOCONFERENCING AND WEBGIS TO SUPPORT DISTRIBUTED CONCURRENT URBAN PLANNING WORKSHOPS

Abstract

This study focuses on an experimental method that employs the internet, WebGIS and videoconference systems to enable gathering and sharing of information from concurrently hosted multiple distributed participatory planning workshops. The method is expected to contribute to time, effort and economic savings while enabling greater grassroots participation as well as promoting the whole participatory planning process through more efficient information collection, sharing and updating. The authors present as a case study a distributed WS supported by videoconferencing and WebGIS systems reporting on the challenges and the implications for use in supporting public participation in planning.