ICT enabled participatory urban planning and policy development: The UrbanAPI project

Purpose: The aim of this paper is to present the effectiveness of participatory information and communication technology (ICT) tools for urban planning, in particular, supporting bottom-up decision-making in urban management and governance. Design/methodology/approach: This work begins with a presentation on the state of the art literature on the existing participatory approaches and their contribution to urban planning and the policymaking process. Furthermore, a case study, namely, the UrbanAPI project, is selected to identify new visualisation and simulation tools applied at different urban scales. These tools are applied in four different European cities - Vienna, Bologna, Vitoria-Gasteiz and Ruse - with the objective to identify the data needs for application development, commonalities in requirements of such participatory tools and their expected impact in policy and decision-making processes. Findings: The case study presents three planning applications: three-dimensional Virtual Reality at neighbourhood scale, Public Motion Explorer at city-wide scale and Urban Growth Simulation at city-region scale. UrbanAPI applications indicate both active and passive participation secured by applying these tools at different urban scales and hence facilitate evidence-based urban planning decision-making. Structured engagement with the city administrations indicates commonalities in user needs and application requirements creating the potential for the development of generic features in these ICT tools which can be applied to many other cities throughout Europe. Originality/value: This paper presents new ICT-enabled participatory urban planning tools at different urban scales to support collaborative decision-making and urban policy development. Various technologies are used for the development of these IT tools and applied to the real environment of four European cities. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Application of CE principles in design of an integrated participative management system to support for urban freight distribution planning: MISPPUFD model

One of the major obstacles for cities to achieve sustainability is the problems related to urban freight transport. Freight transport operations in urban areas are usually carried out by private companies (freight operators and carriers), using public infrastructure, governed by regulations and implemented and monitored by public authorities. In most cases, because there is no prior consultation with the other stakeholders involved in freight transportation, the negative impacts generated from the urban freight distribution are compromised by the implementation of these actions. There is a lack in the literature a decision support system an appropriate that be able to potentialize the involvement between public and private sector of urban freight. This paper look for new ways of responding to these questions. In this context, the objective of this work is to present a methodology based on the application of Concurrent Engineering (CE) principles in design of an Integrated Participative Planning Management System to Support for Urban Freight Distribution (MISPPUFD) - be able to influence and promote behavioral / engagement change to a requirement for greater interaction between policy makers and stakeholders in support of the group decision-making process with regards to urban freight distribution issues. This suggests the importance of a system that promotes interaction and dialogue through public consultation to better understand the issues and objectives of different stakeholders in the cargo sector, including academic experts and citizens in that partnership. This approach should result in helping policy makers and stakeholders to deal with different complex objectives and decisions and guide the process of participationThis work has been supported by FCT Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia, Portugal, within the Project Scope: UID/CEC/00319/2019

“Turning mirrors into windows”: A study of participatory dynamic simulation modelling to inform health policy decisions

Introduction: Achieving evidence-based public health policy is challenging. There is increasing recognition that more sophisticated, system-science, analytic methods, such as dynamic simulation modelling (DSM), are needed to better understand the dynamic, interacting and interrelated elements within complex public health systems. This thesis explored the implementation, feasibility and value of a novel participatory DSM approach as a tool for knowledge mobilisation and decision support in Australian health policy settings. An indepth case study of participatory modelling of Diabetes in Pregnancy (DIP) in the Australian Capital Territory (2016-2018) was conducted. Two additional modelling case studies focusing on prevention of childhood overweight and obesity and alcohol-related harms in New South Wales provided supplementary data across different settings. Methods: A multidisciplinary stakeholder group, including researchers, clinicians, public health practitioners, policy makers, and simulation modelling experts, was convened to coproduce a pioneering, multi-method DSM to inform DIP health service policy and planning. Using participatory action research methods, interviews with participants, recordings from model development workshops and meetings, participatory research field notes and other documents were analysed to determine the feasibiliy and value of the participatory model development process. The analysis explored the deliberations, challenges, opportunities and decisions involved. Interviews with end-user participants for the primary and additional case studies explored their perceptions of the utility and value of this approach in applied settings. Results: Participatory DSM builds on elements of best practice in knowledge mobilisation, including embedding deliberative methods to build shared understanding. The methods enabled a collaborative, co-production approach to evidence-informed practice that moved beyond evidence synthesis to provide dynamic decision support. The participatory process was iterative, with key decisions re-visited and refined throughout the process. It facilitated a significant, interdisciplinary knowledge base, built understanding of the modelling process, and established trust in the model to inform policy decisions. Key insights relating to the prevention and management of DIP were gained. The importance of implementing and maintaining population interventions promoting healthy weight for children and young adults was demonstrated. The unique benefits of simulation modelling most valued by health sector decision makers were its capacity to explore risk factor interactions, compare the outcomes of alternative intervention combinations, and consider the impacts of scaling-up. Participants also valued simulating new interventions prior to implementation, and mapping evidence gaps to prioritise future research. Discussion: Using a participatory approach to DSM for health policy is feasible and enhances the value of models as knowledge mobilisation and health policy decision support tools. The detailed analysis in this thesis revealed the socio-technical opportunities and challenges of implementing these interdisciplinary methods at the intersection of systems science, knowledge mobilisation and public health policy, and the key elements required for successful implementation in applied health policy settings

Ocean Governance: The New Zealand Dimension Full Report

The primary goal of this report is to provide interested members of the public and policymakers with a general overview and a description of the types of principles, planning tools, and policy instruments that can be used to strengthen and improve marine governance in New Zealand. As extractive uses (hydrocarbons and minerals, in particular) ramp up and others are explored and brought on line in the marine areas of New Zealand, the need will increase for a more integrative, ecosystem-based approach to marine governance. This study is based on the following types of analysis: • a review of the literature on the existing governance framework in New Zealand • a comprehensive review of the scientific literature on integrative, ecosystem-based marine governance • an evaluation of case study materials on offshore oil and gas development, marine aquaculture, marine life protection, and marine minerals exploration • a examination of New Zealand’s marine policies and legislation • a synthesis of materials and input from participants in the project’s four workshops on the subjects of marine farming, aquaculture, marine science and technology, and marine governance • an assessment of the information and materials gained from a series of confidential, one-on-one and group interviews, conducted in person or by telephone during 2010 and 2011, with a selection of ocean stakeholders including academics, members of non-government organizations, regional and national resource managers, members of the public service, and representatives of major ocean industries, such as offshore oil, commercial fishing, and mining interests. The major findings of this study are that the existing marine governance framework in New Zealand emphasises a traditional sector-by-sector approach to management and planning, and that this fragmented governance framework contributes to a number of institutional challenges, such as: • a spatial and temporal overlap of human activities and their objectives, causing conflicts (user–user and user–ecosystem conflicts) • a lack of connection between the various authorities responsible for individual activities • a lack of connection between offshore activities and resource use and onshore communities that are dependent on them • a lack of protection of culturally and ecologically sensitive marine areas. In addition, the study identifies a number of factors that influence marine planning and decision-making in the country, including but not limited to: • a lack of institutional capacity and capability to govern marine resources and address ecosystem issues across administrative jurisdictions and management sectors • general scientific uncertainty and a paucity of information with respect to the resources and the more general ecological features of the marine area • the relationships between economic use of marine resources and the maintenance of marine ecosystem services and goods • Māori interests, perspectives and treaty obligations • increasing pressures from the use of marine areas, including the impacts of terrestrial inputs from coastal waterways on nearshore marine ecosystems and resources • the role of international treaties and conventions • the synergistic and cumulative impacts of multiple use and climate disturbance on marine ecosystems • the role of scientists and science in marine planning and decision-making. This report describes two general recommendations. First, with respect to the territorial sea (which includes the marine area out to 12 nautical miles) the report recommends that regional councils develop integrative marine plans where conflict between users and users-ecosystems is likely to develop in the future. Second, the report recommends the adoption of a new role for central government to support an ecosystem-based approach to integrative marine planning and decision-making. Within central government, stronger interagency coordination and new public policy are needed to address future marine resource conflicts and to support an ecosystem-based approach to integrative marine planning and collaborative decision- making for the EEZ. There is also a new role for place-based collaborative decision-making and planning to address conflicts in marine areas that are likely to be developed in the future. A range of new principles of marine governance, planning tools and policy instruments are described that support a marine ecosystem-based approach to integrative planning across management sectors for the EEZ

Improving stakeholder engagement in local strategic planning - experience sharing based on Portuguese examples

Participatory local governance refers to any mechanism that promotes the involvement of stakeholders in the public policy decision-making process. It goes from weaker initiatives related to conveying information on policy decisions in more effective means to stronger engaging processes in which stakeholders have an actual influence in the public policy (ranging from planning to implementation, monitoring and evaluating). Current context has triggered a fast dissemination of participatory initiatives, prompted by the expected benefits as increasing local government responsiveness and accountability; getting a better match between policy decisions and beneficiaries’ preferences; acknowledging stakeholders’ expertise; improving confidence on politicians; promoting informal knowledge transfer; reinforcing citizens’ capability to intervene and to commit upon the decisions and contributing to a higher implementation success. Yet, there are also some recognized risks as the prolonged decision-making process, overstated stakeholders’ expectations, privileging some specific groups of civil society, lack of technical skills of stakeholders or the possible biased motivation of local authorities. In this context, the main aim of this paper consists in sharing practice based experience on collaborative local strategic planning, highlighting specific methods that have been put in place by the authors to enhance stakeholders’ engagement, trying to surpass some of the identified risks. This experience was gained through the authors’ participation, as an external and independent expertise team, in three Portuguese participatory processes. By combining several group dynamics and problem solving tools, the methods shared in this paper allowed for the development of local strategic plans, built by stakeholders, ensuring a high commitment with the planned objectives and actions. In two of the tree cases analysed, such plans were used to apply to regional policy instruments of ESF for 2014-2020, having been highly recognized by the Structural Funds managing authorities, thus resulting in the allocation of important funds to local entities, vital for territorial development. An evaluation of the applied methods is provided, envisioned to support future similar initiatives. The collaborative methods have received an encouraging feedback expressed both by the citizen representatives and local authorities, being the quality and diversity of stakeholders and the methodology applied by the expertise team referred as its main strengths. Therefore, these can be considered good practice examples for achieving more effective means of local participatory mechanisms as they support independent debate groups, promote equal participation, knowledge sharing, new ideas and consensus reaching, building on local stakeholders technical skills. In sum, the applied methodologies contribute for a strong involvement of stakeholders and actual influence on public policy decisions.N/

Decision makers\u27 experience of participatory dynamic simulation modelling: Methods for public health policy

Background: Systems science methods such as dynamic simulation modelling are well suited to address questions about public health policy as they consider the complexity, context and dynamic nature of system-wide behaviours. Advances in technology have led to increased accessibility and interest in systems methods to address complex health policy issues. However, the involvement of policy decision makers in health-related simulation model development has been lacking. Where end-users have been included, there has been limited examination of their experience of the participatory modelling process and their views about the utility of the findings. This paper reports the experience of end-user decision makers, including senior public health policy makers and health service providers, who participated in three participatory simulation modelling for health policy case studies (alcohol related harm, childhood obesity prevention, diabetes in pregnancy), and their perceptions of the value and efficacy of this method in an applied health sector context. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with end-user participants from three participatory simulation modelling case studies in Australian real-world policy settings. Interviewees were employees of government agencies with jurisdiction over policy and program decisions and were purposively selected to include perspectives at different stages of model development. Results: The ‘co-production’ aspect of the participatory approach was highly valued. It was reported as an essential component of building understanding of the modelling process, and thus trust in the model and its outputs as a decision-support tool. The unique benefits of simulation modelling included its capacity to explore interactions of risk factors and combined interventions, and the impact of scaling up interventions. Participants also valued simulating new interventions prior to implementation in the real world, and the comprehensive mapping of evidence and its gaps to prioritise future research. The participatory aspect of simulation modelling was time and resource intensive and therefore most suited to high priority complex topics with contested options for intervening. Conclusion: These findings highlight the value of a participatory approach to dynamic simulation modelling to support its utility in applied health policy settings

Urban management revolution: intelligent management systems for ubiquitous cities

A successful urban management support system requires an integrated approach. This integration includes bringing together economic, socio-cultural and urban development with a well orchestrated transparent and open decision making mechanism. The paper emphasises the importance of integrated urban management to better tackle the climate change, and to achieve sustainable urban development and sound urban growth management. This paper introduces recent approaches on urban management systems, such as intelligent urban management systems, that are suitable for ubiquitous cities. The paper discusses the essential role of online collaborative decision making in urban and infrastructure planning, development and management, and advocates transparent, fully democratic and participatory mechanisms for an effective urban management system that is particularly suitable for ubiquitous cities. This paper also sheds light on some of the unclear processes of urban management of ubiquitous cities and online collaborative decision making, and reveals the key benefits of integrated and participatory mechanisms in successfully constructing sustainable ubiquitous cities

Integrating multiple criteria decision analysis in participatory forest planning

Forest planning in a participatory context often involves multiple stakeholders with conflicting interests. A promising approach for handling these complex situations is to integrate participatory planning and multiple criteria decision analysis (MCDA). The objective of this paper is to analyze strengths and weaknesses of such an integrated approach, focusing on how the use of MCDA has influenced the participatory process. The paper outlines a model for a participatory MCDA process with five steps: stakeholder analysis, structuring of the decision problem, generation of alternatives, elicitation of preferences, and ranking of alternatives. This model was applied in a case study of a planning process for the urban forest in Lycksele, Sweden. In interviews with stakeholders, criteria for four different social groups were identified. Stakeholders also identified specific areas important to them and explained what activities the areas were used for and the forest management they wished for there. Existing forest data were combined with information from interviews to create a map in which the urban forest was divided into zones of different management classes. Three alternative strategic forest plans were produced based on the zonal map. The stakeholders stated their preferences individually by the Analytic Hierarchy Process in inquiry forms and a ranking of alternatives and consistency ratios were determined for each stakeholder. Rankings of alternatives were aggregated; first, for each social group using the arithmetic mean, and then an overall aggregated ranking was calculated from the group rankings using the weighted arithmetic mean. The participatory MCDA process in Lycksele is assessed against five social goals: incorporating public values into decisions, improving the substantive quality of decisions, resolving conflict among competing interests, building trust in institutions, and educating and informing the public. The results and assessment of the case study support the integration of participatory planning and MCDA as a viable option for handling complex forest-management situations. Key issues related to the MCDA methodology that need to be explored further were identified: 1) The handling of place-specific criteria, 2) development of alternatives, 3) the aggregation of individual preferences into a common preference, and 4) application and evaluation of the integrated approach in real case studies

Land Use Strategy (LUS) Delivery Evaluation Project : Volume 1: Main Report

Scotland’s first Land Use Strategy (LUS) – Getting the best from our land – was published in March 2011. The LUS is a requirement of the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009, highlighting the important contribution that Scottish Ministers expect land use and land management to make towards the climate change agenda in Scotland. The crucial component of the LUS are its ten principles for sustainable land use – the LUS Principles. The LUS Principles are the key mechanism by which the strategic intent of the national level LUS can be translated into regional and local level planning and decision-making, through existing land use delivery mechanisms, to inform action on the ground. The overall aim of the LUS Delivery Evaluation Project therefore was “to evaluate the range of current land use delivery mechanisms, to ascertain their effectiveness in translating the strategic Principles of the LUS into decision-making on the ground”. The evaluation considered eleven case study land use delivery mechanisms ranging from an urban Local Development Plan (LDP) to the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Partnership Plan