Barriers to GIS Use in Planning

Problem: Despite the widespread availability of geographic information systems (GIS) in local government, there is some evidence that the potential of GIS as a planning tool is not being fully exploited. While obstacles to GIS implementation in local government have been investigated, most of these investigations are either dated or do not focus on planning applications.

Purpose: We aim to add to the limited literature on the current barriers hindering GIS use in public planning agencies. We also offer some insights into how to mitigate these barriers and help planning agencies move beyond using GIS simply for routine tasks of data access and mapmaking.

Methods: We analyzed responses to a 2007 web-based survey of 265 practitioners in Wisconsin's public planning agencies and follow-up interviews with 20 practitioners we conducted in 2008.

Results and conclusions: Planning departments still face a range of technological, organizational, and institutional barriers in using GIS. Training, funding, and data issues appear to be the most significant barriers preventing greater use of GIS for planning purposes, suggesting that organizational and institutional issues are more pertinent than technological barriers. Our literature review indicates that the barriers to GIS use in local government are similar to those of the past, but not identical. Furthermore, our observations indicate that, in general, practitioners are not aware of the full potential of GIS and planning support systems (PSS).

Takeaway for practice: Increased funding alone is not likely to move a planning agency beyond routine applications of GIS. Improved access to training that is geared toward the planning process and planning applications may help alleviate many barriers planners face in using GIS in general and in incorporating more sophisticated GIS functions in their work.

Research support: This work was supported in part by the Consortium for Rural Geospatial Innovations, funded by the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Services of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and in part by the University of Wisconsin–Madison College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the University of Wisconsin–Extension.     

Club Goods and Local Government

Problem: Private approaches to urban service provision are becoming more popular. Some argue these approaches are more efficient and more democratic than government provision because they are voluntary. While these club approaches can shift the burden of infrastructure finance to direct groups of users, they can also fragment urban service delivery and justify unevenness in service quality across the city.

Purpose: This article explores examples of club goods, that is, common interest developments (CIDS) for housing, business improvement districts (BIDs) for commercial areas, and economic development zones (EDZs) for commercial and industrial areas, and assesses their implications for local government. Emphasis is given to how clubs internalize benefits to members of the club but shed externalities onto the broader local government system. A critical governance concern is the impact on the long-term ability of local government to coordinate across disparate elements and interests in the community.

Methods: I discuss three types of clubs ranging from totally private common interest developments (home owners associations), to partially private business improvement districts, to totally public economic development zones. These club types are analyzed in terms of economic benefits, externalities, governance structure, and broader concerns with equity and sustainability.

Results and conclusions: Club good approaches to urban infrastructure delivery enhance private investment and reduce costs to cities, but they also shed externalities onto the broader city. Although these clubs are often private associations, this article shows how they are critically supported by government, beyond the property rights requirement assumed by most theorists. A further concern is that club approaches may undermine support for equity and redistribution at the broader city level.

Takeaway for practice: Local governments are under pressure to provide public goods efficiently and engage private voluntary approaches whenever possible. The efficiency and popularity of club approaches derives in part from their ability to capture the benefits of increased investment for internal benefit. However, local government managers also must manage diversity and build public support for investment to ensure equity across the urban territory. Balancing the benefits of club goods with the need for broader urban integration is a key challenge for planners and urban managers.

Research support: None.     

Planning in Metropolitan Sub–Regions: an Adelaide Comment

Abstract

This article suggests that the role and function of regional organizations, each covering a part of the metropolitan area, are changing over time and that significant contributions could be made by them in the areas of economic and urban development. In particular it is argued that in Adelaide, the evolution of the institutional and political framework or regional organizations provides an ideal vehicle for such a bottom-up approach. After a brief review of all the metropolitan regional organizations of councils, this article exemplifies this argument through the Northern sub-region. It provides an accompaniment to the paper concerned with the economic analysis of Northern Adelaide.     

On Peanuts and Monkeys: Private Sector Involvement in Australian Building Control

In response to issues arising from municipal led regulatory enforcement, governments in Australia have reformed their regimes of building regulation and control since the 1990s. Private certifiers have been introduced as an addition to local government building control. Based on a series of interviews with 56 insiders this article addresses the implications of privatisation of Australian building control by discussing its intended and unintended impacts. The article concludes by drawing a number of case-specific lessons and more general lessons on privatisation of regulatory enforcement that move well beyond the field of building control.

     

Nonsense on wheels

Abstract

This paper provides an analysis of spatial and temporal patterns in housing supply in Australia over the period 2005–06 to 2015–16. It shows that by international standards, per capita housing supply is very strong in Australia. However, housing supply is concentrated in areas with relatively high prices. Over time, some changes in the geography of housing supply are emerging, including a closer match between the supply of units and “job-rich” locations. This paper concludes by discussing how understanding patterns of new supply can help policymakers determine interventions that increase housing supply’s impact to alleviate inflationary pressures, hence improving housing affordability.     

我国省级政府空间布局优化配置研究

政府空间布局必须体现出政府内部行政管理的逻辑关系和政府工作的实际需要,而对这两点考虑不周恰恰是当今我国省级政府空间布局存在问题的根源所在。它带来了行政成本增加、行政效率损失、人力资源浪费等政府行政管理问题,降低了政府的公共服务性,损害了公共利益。明确产权管理、加强规划设计研究等,方能优化我国省级政府空间布局,而空间布局采取相对集中的模式、建设中央政务区、实施空间置换和加强政府信息化建设,是优化省级政府空间布局的可行措施。     

良好农业规范中政府支持分析

良好农业规范（GAP）的引进和推广对于保证食品安全,促进农业产业化,农业标准化具有重要的意义。而作为重要利益主体的政府,在良好农业规范的推广过程中需要发挥自己的作用。本文基于公共选择理论分析了政府支持GAp的理论依据并结合中国GAP发展的实际情况提出了政府支持GAP的方式。     

东营市应对网络舆情的联动应急机制研究

论文在分析了网络舆情危机的成因、特点及演化等问题的基础上,进一步分析东营市地方政府应对网络舆情危机不恰当的因素。从而提出应该构建应对网络舆情危机的应急机制体系,提升东营市地方政府对网络舆情危机的掌控能力与应对能力。     

政府管制:公共建筑强制保险的制度安排——“5·12”汶川特大地震引起的反思

由于公共建筑致害的特殊性,民法通则与国家赔偿法在很多时候并不能提供有效的救济,受害人的损失如果无人问津,将会产生极大的负面影响。因此,有必要在已有的法律救济类型上进行扩张,使公共建筑致人损害救济除了主要依据现有的民事救济外,还可以通过责任保险制度以及公共建筑质量工程保险的建立,来完善公共建筑致人损害的救济体系。其中,政府管制的介入和推动将是非常关键的一个环节。     

Navigating politics, policy, and procedure: A firsthand perspective of advocacy on behalf of the profession.

Psychology's expertise as a behavioral science is essential to effectively address society's most pressing concerns. Advocacy for clients and the public good--and in turn, for the profession of psychology--occurs on multiple levels through active participation in local and federal legislatures, agencies, foundations, and nonprofit organizations that influence implementation of regulations and policies. The authors offer a number of observations and recommendations from their cumulative past experience to argue that presence, persistence, and long-term vision are absolutely essential for the ultimate success and advancement of professional psychology. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)