GIS-Based Software Engineering to Support Public Participation in Spatial Utilization in Lampung

Managing land use effectively requires citizens to have a say in how their environment is shaped, especially in rapidly urbanizing regions. Recognizing the need for inclusive spatial governance, this study engineers a Geographic Information System (GIS) application to foster grassroots participation, designed for Dinas Perumahan, Kawasan Permukiman dan Cipta Karya Provinsi Lampung, the provincial agency responsible for housing, settlements, and public works. The need is pressing: an agency survey in 2023 found that only 25 percent of residents knew the provincial spatial plan existed, and only 15 percent had ever taken part in preparing it. Development followed a User-Centered Design (UCD) approach and was aligned with the official blueprint in the province's 2025 Draft Gubernatorial Regulation on community empowerment in spatial utilization. The result is an integrated web and mobile GIS platform built around a five-stage participatory reporting mechanism and an architecture of Node.js, PostgreSQL/PostGIS, React Native, and GeoServer. Citizens submit geotagged reports of suspected zoning violations, which the system automatically cross-checks against the digital spatial plan (RTRW) before officers are assigned and follow-up action is tracked. Functional testing confirmed that all core features operated as designed, while qualitative feedback from community representatives and agency officials highlighted the platform's intuitive navigation and practical relevance. The study shows how UCD-driven software engineering can turn a regulatory mandate for participation into a working, two-way channel between citizens and spatial governance.