Internet GIS for public participation

Internet GIS, serving spatial data and GIS functionality on the web, offers a special and potentially important means to facilitate public participation in the planning and decisionmaking process. In this paper I discuss a framework for the design of a web-based public participation system (WPPS) that integrates Internet GIS, Internet communications, and scenario-building tools. The design framework is based on a taxonomy that is created to describe the level of services in serving public participation according to the information content, level of user interactivity, and system functionality. The system is designed to enhance public participation in the planning and decisionmaking process by providing the general public with data, analysis tools, and a forum to explore knowledge, express opinion, and discuss issues. The unique feature of the WPPS using Internet GIS is that it provides users not only the option of evaluating, commenting, and selecting alternatives, but also the capability of forming their own alternatives. I also discuss system components and design issues in the WPPS.