Dilemmas in Contemporary Planning

Abstract

Definitions and frameworks are essential for the progress of systematic inquiry. They create the common ground that is necessary to engage in a meaningful conversation. While definitions can sometimes create intense disagreement and debate, they also help to forge consensus and advance scholarship (Wright et al., 1997). In the last chapter, I reviewed the literature on the evolution of Public Participation GIS (PPGIS) research and practice, commenting on the fact that there is still a lack of agreement about the term. Is PPGIS a set of tools? Is it a way of thinking about doing GIS work in communities? In what ways is PPGIS different from conventional GIS? Can PPGIS include more than GIS, for exam- ple, can we discuss it under the umbrella of Public Participation and Information Technologies1 (PP-IT)?