The Future of GIS in Planning: Converging Technologies and Diverging Interests

Problem: Given that geographic information system (GIS) technology is evolving and becoming integrated with allied technologies, how should planners understand and use it to meet the needs of the profession? Purpose: This article outlines important changes in geospatial technology to initiate a discussion of how the planning profession can best respond to these challenges and opportunities. Methods: The article is based on a literature review and the authorsʹ knowledge of current technology trends and how these trends are likely to affect planning practice and education. Results and conclusions: The world of GIS is changing. With the advent of mass-market GIS, the needs of planners are less central than they were previously to commercial GIS vendors. However, there are exciting new opportunities provided by web-based systems and open-source geospatial software. Planners must move aggressively to grasp these new opportunities. Takeaway for practice: The new web-based systems provide exciting opportunities to create new geospatial applications, especially in the area of public participation. New open-source GIS software will allow planners to assemble geospatial applications from functionality that is distributed across the web. Planning practitioners and academics should form alliances to develop the next generation of urban modeling and planning support software.