Accessing Geographical Information Systems over the World Wide Web: Improving public participation in environmental decision‐making

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Carver, Steve | Evans, Andy | Kingston, Richard | Turton, Ian

Affiliations: School of Geography, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK

Abstract: This paper describes work carried out as part of the Economic and Social Research Council’s Virtual Society? Research Programme and presents some initial developments in the field of spatial decision support systems (SDSS) on the World Wide Web (WWW). Particular attention is paid to the development of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and web‐based SDSS with the principal aim of increasing public involvement in environmental decision‐making. Discussion focuses on public access issues and the implications for online approaches to public participation. Examples of three online SDSS are given covering local, regional and national scale case studies.

Journal: Information Infrastructure and Policy, vol. 6, no. 3, pp. 157-170, 2000