Potentials of ICT for public participation

The internet is no longer an exotic space.

Internet

There are more than 160 countries in this world and Malaysian is the 17th highest global online population. United States, a country with 295 millions population rank number 1 as the highest global online population country with 62.74% populations or 185 millions having access to internet following by China, top population country with 1310 millions populations but with only 99.8 millions internet users. Is closely followed by Japan with 78.05 millions internet users.

Malaysia, a country even though have only 24 millions population have a high ranking on global online population based on its high percentage of population which is around 41.83% population having internet access.

People use the internet for online banking, to search for job offers or a new partner, for information and communication (news, emails), to book holidays, to shop online, etc. The internet is not longer an alien instrument. To many, the use of the web is as naturally as reading newspapers or listening to the radio. Therefore, e-participation is timely and, considering the above listed circumstances, it is appropriate to allow residents to participate in planning processes online. (cf. Bräuer, M., Biewendt, T., 2005)

One of the biggest advantages offered by e-Participation is the independence of space and time: the user is free to choose, when and where he will join the project to get himself informed, and to participate in the process. This aspect could widen the range of people already participating in planning processes, because also those people can get involved who, until now, did not have the opportunity to, due to handicaps, inconvenient working times, personal timidity. (The internet is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.)

Therefore, information can be offered, discussion can take place, and participation is possible, regardless of any office hours. It is also a chance to involve groups which may not be reached with traditional participation methods but are typical internet users (young people, technology savvy people and bloggers too). Getting more responds from other people involved will also enhance the input of knowledge. Legal authorities will profit from getting input from different stakeholders and a wide variety of user groups. Planning will not longer be a process of making proposals and let them discuss by the public, but could benefit from the wide range of public knowledge, which could now easily be used to improve planning and decision making processes (cf. Bräuer, M., Biewendt, T. 2005). Another point is the possibility of interactive communication, also, or even with high number of participation. Participants are able to link their comments interactively and time lapsed (asynchrony), different from face-to-face discussion (synchrony) where the comments are directly linked to the earlier statement.

The internet allows representing continuously profound information of all relevant planning data which is accessible to whoever is interested in. But not only common information, like textual and map based input, might be offered via internet. One of the big potentials of the web is the interactivity and the special visualization possibilities. People can look at planning proposals in a 3-Dimensional way, walk through 3D urban- models and change the view-points as they prefer.

3D Modeling for Online Usage

Videos and panorama images are further features to make information and participation more interesting and understandable. New visualization technologies (Google Earth) and discussion structures may help to improve participation and simplify understanding of development contents for non-professional people.

Google Earth Interface

The internet as a networking instrument could help to improve the communication in participation processes: one-way-communication (download, newsletter, and mailing) is possible as well as two ways (e-mail, online forms, e-voting, chat) and multi-way-communication (collective city and residents’ server, internet conference, online mediation, online working, and discussion forum). This is a very important aspect by developing participation as co-operation between partners, not only as top-down involvement of local authorities. Another important issue is the improvement of transparency in planning and participation processes which might come with e-Planning and e-Participation. But there is also the risk of anonymity and quasi participation.

Using the web for participation demands a careful handling of data and input of the participants. Contact persons have to be announced and fast feed-back provided. Also the use of the engagement and the influence of the planning process have to be defined clearly. Results have to be displayed and timelines have to be named. Anyway, if online participation is handled carefully and earnestly, the planning and participation process will become much more transparent. (cf. Märker 2007; Sinning, Selle, Pflüger 2003)