Digitalising and democratising the planning system: ComTech, citizens, and planners

As the proliferation of emerging highly sophisticated technological devices continues to reshape urban life, this research investigates the intersection of planning, technology, and democracy. It addresses key research gaps by examining human-computer interaction, planning support systems, PlanTech, co-design, technological humanism, and the digital divide.

The study employs a mixed-methods approach, including case studies, interviews, and multi-actor questionnaires, to triangulate the experiences, requirements, and preparedness of planners, citizens, and planning technology designers. <br><br>The findings highlight the challenges and opportunities of digital participatory planning, emphasizing the need for a new conceptual framework, ComTech, to better align planning technologies with the diverse needs of urban actors.