Infill Planner: A geo-questionnaire to gather public input on infill developments
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Date
2021-08-31
Authors
Arku, Robert
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
University of Waterloo
Abstract
Urban infill and intensification planning strategies aim to lead toward more efficient use urban land and ultimately urban forms that more sustainable and offer citizens improved quality of life. Due to the potential impacts of introducing change into established neighborhoods, the implementation of these planning strategies is not straightforward. Urban infill strategies often elicit public reactions, either positively or negatively, which ultimately influence the successes or failures of infill projects. Local knowledge and public input must therefore be considered during these planning processes. Map-based tools are increasingly being adopted to solicit public input in urban planning. However, the varying designs and implementation of these tools outpaces planning research. A research gap relating to what works, how and in which context therefore exists. This thesis seeks to understand how the public considers both site (i.e., property) and situation (i.e., neighborhood) factors when considering potential infill developments. Infill Planner, a web-based tool that combines interactive maps and questionnaires, was developed to allow participants to designate future land uses for potential infill development sites. The tool was tested in a simulated urban infill planning process for selected sites in the City of Stratford, Ontario. Despite the simulated nature of the planning exercise, the research contributes to our understanding of how individuals use map-based data and tools when considering the site-specific and neighbourhood level implications of infill developments. Lessons from the design and implementation testing as well as implications for planning practice and academia, are also discussed.
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Keywords
infill development, urban planning, citizen science, web tool, geo-questionnaire, geo-science, participatory mapping, public participation, community development