The Potential for Public Participation GIS in UK Environmental Planning - Appraisals by Active Publics

The paper draws on an empirical study of two workshops in which the issues that arise from the use of GIS as a planning tool in public participation settings where explored by local residents who take an active int rest in local planning matters in their London borough. The paper demonstrates how issues concerned with the democratisation of GIS and Public Participation GIS (PPGIS) informed the structure and conduct of the workshops and the qualitative analysis of th e workshop discussions. Key themes raised by participants include the potential of PPGIS as a means of extending knowledge networks; issues of data ownership and the responsiveness of data providers to public concerns, and the role that institutional norms and practices play in democratising information availability and the transparency of the decision-making process. The paper concludes that the potential of PPGIS as a planning tool cannot be separated from public concerns about the legitimacy of the planning process or local government.

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