Cyber-democracy and public participation in spatial decision-making Steve Carver, Andy Evans, Richard Kingston and Ian Turton University of Leeds

Introduction Traditional versus online approaches to public participation in planning process Role of PPGIS for encouraging involvement –explore, experiment and formulate Positivist (realist) approach –R&D –case studies –role of spatial scale and social context

Public participation Problems with traditional methods –“them and us” –the dominant vocal minority New role for the Internet in supporting spatial/environmental decision-making? –access to technology and information –knowledge and training –empowerment through new forms of dialogue

Spatial decision-making Many environmental problems are inherently spatial Role for Geographical Information Systems (GIS)? –the spatial information technology –openGIS through online application –best means of communicating spatial problems and ideas –development as spatial decision support

Case studies Three case studies –environmental planning problems –local, regional and national scales –multi-stakeholder and multi-issue: conflict –R&D in collaboration with decision-makers and public –live testing with real stakeholders –developing consensus

Local - village planning Virtual Slaithwaite –Online “Planning for Real” –PP in village planning –developed with Neighbourhood Initiative Foundation (NIF) and Colne Valley Trust –run in parallel to traditional PfR model

Virtual Slaithwaite:

Comments map: “The reintroduction of the canal will be a disaster for the people who live and work in Slaithwaite. It will destroy the way we live and too little attention is being given to ordinary people and everyday life in favour of the canal enthusiast’s dreams. Yes, it’s coming, but I wish it wasn’t.”

Regional - woodland siting Yorkshire Dales National Park –native woodland regeneration –siting problem: where plant new woodland –developed with national park authority in support of “Dales Woodland Strategy” –landscape planning using PPGIS –multiple stakeholders: locals and visitors

Woodland siting interface:

Woodland results map:

National - nuclear waste Nuclear waste –siting of storage and/or disposal facilities –difficult geographical/social problem –developed with UK Nirex Ltd. –similar interface to woodland example –not live tested –basis of further R&D work

Nuclear waste interface:

Results Users –strong male:female bias –mainly professional/managerial or ‘in- education’ occupations –reflected in bi-modal age distribution User interaction –high proficiency of map use –some problems with computer use –group dynamics are important

Problem issues Training –familiarity with technology? Access to Internet –dichotomies of access –danger of creating “information underclass” Copyright –map data ownership –idea ownership (IPR)

Towards theory Principles of online PPGIS: –understandable and jargon-free –full and unbiased information –transparent and accountable: trust Effects of scale –local scale = high (universal) interest –national scale = specialist (limited) interest Empowerment?

Conclusions Increasing use of Internet to deliver information and tools for addressing environmental problems GIS will be a central technology Opportunities for public involvement in decision-making are great Need for good understanding of social science to develop better systems