Using visualization techniques for enhancing public participation in planning and design: process, implementation, and evaluation

This paper describes three different visualization tools employed during a participatory planning process in Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood. These tool s were used during different phases of the planning process to encourage ma ximum public input and participation. In the initial neighborhood design wo rkshops, a Geographic Information System (GIS) was used in tandem with an a rtist. The GIS provided the planning team with interactive visualization of the neighborhood through maps and images. The artist provided an avenue fo r residents to actively participate in the design creation by quickly captu ring ideas and discussions into sketches. In rater workshops, a third tool, computer photo-manipulation, was introduced. This technique allowed partic ipants to view photorealistic examples of proposed design prototypes that w ere seamlessly placed into photographic images of the neighborhood. Each of these tools was highly effective in promoting resident participation in th e planning and design process. We found that the three visualization tools were appropriate for different phases of the planning process. Freehand ske tching and the GIS were most effective for problem identification and brain storming, while photo-manipulation using computer imaging was most useful f or exploring solutions to previously-defined design issues. (C) 1999 Elsevi er Science B.V. All rights reserved.