Urban Planning, Information Technology, and Cyberspace

The development of advanced information and telecommunications networks have created new kinds of socioeconomic activities, while changes in values and increases in cultural diversity within cities have made manifest the need for planning schemes based on flexibility and responsiveness to change. In contrast to motorization that completely altered the urban scene, IT has quietly merged into the existing urban structure, causing little change in appearance. Nevertheless, the exponential growth of the Internet and the increase in the use of computers have had profound effects on urban activities. Urban planners have responded by developing supportive tools such as network-based geographic information systems (GIS) as well as online public participation programs (PPP) and other types of groupware. These technologies automate data handling, reduce planning time, and increase the opportunity for public participation. The social life of cities has also been changing.