Planning Support Systems in a Multi-Dualistic Spatial Planning Context

Abstract

While rapid advances in hardware, software, the Internet, and data availability have facilitated the construction of planning support systems (PSS), the actual increase in use of PSS cannot be ensured without its close alignment with the specific planning process and context (Geertman and Stillwell, 2003). This paper argues that a significant success factor in the design of a quality PSS, particularly Spatial PSS, is the ability to respond to and accommodate a range of context specific dualisms. The term “dualism” is used pervasively in describing and explaining current worldwide spatial planning contexts but ranges in meaning to include economic dualism between growing and lagging regions, demographic dualisms between areas of population loss and gain, nature and society dualisms, labor market dualisms, and urban and rural dualisms. In South Africa, the spatial planning context is dominated by socioeconomic bifurcations, characterized by dualisms such as the co-existence of a globally integrated “first economy” and a marginalized “second economy.” In addition, dualisms relating to differential levels of access to information technology, user skills, and capacity levels also influence the access to and use of PSS. The Toolkit for Integrated Planning (TIP) has been developed to provide enhanced information and evidence in Integrated Development Plans. A demonstrator TIP was developed in the first iteration of the full TIP PSS development process. This paper describes the application of a revised conceptual model for achieving a quality PSS and the design of the demonstrator TIP within the current South African policy and socioeconomic planning context. In the application process, further lessons for enhancing PSS quality have emerged, which, in turn, can be employed to enhance the quality of future PSS.