PPGIS as Critical Reflective Practice

Abstract

The ideas in the book revolve around three cross-cutting themes – planning, partic-ipation, and technologies. What follows is a synthesis of lessons learned from the literature (Chaps. 2 and 3), the survey of the state of the practice (Chap. 4), and the individual case studies (Chaps. 5, 6, and 7) and an assessment of their relative merits (Chap. 8). In this chapter, I propose that GIS facilitates individual and community capacity building. Yet, the advantages that GIS offer are only maximized when the tools are embedded and integrated into a participatory process. The participatory process helps to empower individuals and groups because it allows for a balance between reflection and action – an approach I call critical reflective practice. 9.2 Planning Is Consensus Building Although this book is focused on planning practice in the United States, it is impor-tant to remember that American neighborhoods and cities cannot remain isolated enclaves. Dramatic socio-demographic changes, waves of in-migration of skilled and unskilled workers, liberalization of cultural and religious attitudes, immigra-tion, and even fear of terrorism and global pandemics have created complex physical and virtual networks that transcend conventional jurisdictional boundaries. In this context, accepted ideas about " good " planning practice are rapidly changing. The rational-comprehensive model of planning was an expert-driven model (Alexander, 1992). Basically, this approach, one that defined much of post-World War II planning in the United States emphasized comprehensive strategies that emphasized the development and management of land (the physical environment). Planning in the 1960s and 1970s was almost Janus-like; on the one hand, the field emphasized sweeping changes to the status quo taking on the thorny issue of racial discrimination in housing, education, and employment. On the other hand, the field largely eschewed bold and dramatic physical design interventions, advocating incre-mental changes in an attempt to undo the negative consequences created by the brash and bold approaches of an earlier era.