Applying the what if? planning support system for better understanding urban fringe growth

This chapter reports on the application of the collaborative GISbased What If? planning support system for managing data and creating exploratory future land use change scenarios. The case study area is Mitchell Shire, a local government municipality located on the urban fringe of the City of Melbourne, Australia. In this research we describe the various modules comprising the What If? planning support systems (PSS) and how they have been applied to assist local planners within the shire to better understand land suitability and the probable impacts of projected population growth. The research also aims to increase awareness of the potential benefits of PSS for planning.