Advancements in web‐mapping tools for land use and marine spatial planning

Abstract

AbstractLand use and marine spatial planning processes are increasingly supported by systematic assessment techniques, particularly by multi‐criteria spatial analysis methods. This has been facilitated by the growing release and uptake of web‐mapping tools, which contribute to transparent, consistent, and informed planning processes and decisions. This article reviews the usability, functionality, and applicability of contemporary planning web‐mapping tools to identify the state‐of‐the‐art and future prospects. The review reveals that interfaces are increasingly available and intuitively applicable by non‐specialized users. Basic map navigation and data querying functionality is being expanded to incorporate advanced map‐making and online data geoprocessing capabilities that enable deriving new data and insights. However, the majority of published planning web tools are one‐off solutions, and a disconnect between research and practice is rendering many of these inaccessible or obsolete. Despite the significant progress made in advancing their provision in the last decade, there is a need for developing transferable interfaces that are maintained beyond project end dates, for them to effectively and consistently support planning processes.