Web-based Tools and Interfaces for Participatory Planning and Design

This chapter addresses the growing interest in using screen-based maps on the Internet for collaborative planning and design. Specifically, it introduces six prototype web interfaces that invite users to read maps of their community and then make selections and type in comments in order to provide feedback into a planning process. Each of the six prototypes highlights a different tool or feature for navigating or making selections on online maps. New web technology has made it possible to create map-based surveys to receive feedback from the general public, but it is not yet clear what kind of graphic design alternatives and digital map designs and tools are the most useful for novice map-readers. This chapter describes several different interface designs with the purpose of finding which combinations of online tools and maps are most productive in soliciting feedback in a community planning process. The goal is to explore how web-based maps can be advanced beyond mere information provision to actual two-way interaction with the public. Tools such as free-hand drawing may provide new avenues for people to take a greater role in public decisionmaking. Examples are presented of solutions to the basic problems of creating interactive screen-based maps, which include navigating large geographic area maps and making selections on maps.