2013 Theses Master's

Participatory Planning: Gaining a Voice in the Digital Divide

Sakamoto, Kazuki

Technology is advancing at an astonishing rate and the tools to collect and analyze large amounts of data are now becoming readily available. Urban planners have begun to utilize these tools including online surveys for example. The relative newness of such tools begs for best practices for these new methods. These tools have also changed the frame around the conversation of inclusion and democratic planning in this modern era. Two planning methodologies from prominent documents are compared and contrasted in this research study. The Second Regional Plan by the Regional Plan Association in 1967 and the PlaNYC 2030’s policy recommendations by the New York City
Mayor’s Office Long-term Planning and Sustainability (OLTPS) in 2010 are the case studies selected. Lastly, the public has been given more access than previously offered by supporting institutions such as the New York Public Library System in New York City and the support has proven to be an effective outlet for bridging the digital divide. Libraries are important places where residents can gain access to the global information society, learn, seek entertainment, and connect with others using the Internet. Urban planning can greatly benefit from understanding Internet usage to give all residents an equal voice in the planning process to meet the goals of true democracy.