Research Proposal regarding topic of "Public Participation"

As this is a blog that I had created as part of my studio assignment, therefore i will post some part of my studio work for comments and recommendations.

One of the assignments that were given to us is to produce and research proposal based on the core topic of our blog. This is some of the progress of my research proposal, although this research proposal is something like a dummy testing for us to learn the process of producing an proper research procedures. please feel free to give comment so that i can take into consideration.

The topic of my research is as follow,

Does incorporating ICT increase level of public participation for Neighborhood planning in Selangor, Malaysia?

Issues and Problems

There are few minor drawbacks from Public Participation Planning in Malaysia.

• Difficult to get people interested in planning and plans, due to difficulties in understanding, personal timidity and lack of time.

• Government planning authority didn’t emphasize much on the involvement of public during the initial planning stage and environmental impact assessment, EIA.

• Lack and in-proper follow up after the initial meeting between planners and the locals.

• Duration for the public participation planning process will take longer considering the action and reaction time from various involving parties and thus resulting in the lack of practicing it.

• Hidden agenda behind the apparent environmental argument might be solely economic, protecting only private objectives of the minority rather the entire community.

• Fears of potential negative effects of urban planning will often trigger responses/appeals to plans. This reactive way of responding is not a constructive mode of participation.

Potential of ICT in Public Participation Planning

• Information, communication and co-operation are the basics of effective and transparent public participation.

• Strengthened by demands of the Malaysia government to enhance e-government.

• Using GIS and CAD data to generate 3D-urban-models, will utilize already existing planning data in a new way. 3D-visualistion of existing and planned structures will help non-professionals to better understand planning contents and the consequences caused by planning alternatives (improve information level of users, and due to plans currently submitted in digital format, it will be much easier & faster to distribute the plans online).

• Using the internet enables the public to participate independently of time and space.

Research Objective

The objective of this research is to find out whether incorporating ICT will increase the level of public participation in the context of neighborhood planning within the Selangor State. Which in terms answers many important questions?

• The level of public participation for neighborhood planning with the incorporation of ICT.

• The feasibility of ICT to fully be incorporated into Public Participation for neighborhood planning.

Scope of Research

Location: selecting neighborhoods within Selangor State that has a minimum 70% from the total housing units with online availability and also with an established neighborhood forum.

Duration: Depending on the type of planning projects to be involved.

Study Subjects: All residents within the neighborhood with the minimum age of 17 and above, that had registered to participate in the planning process through registering in the forum.