GIS as a Planning Support System for the Planning of Harmonious Cities , No. 3

Professor Yeh explores the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) as a Planning Support System for urban planning. Despite the growing popularity of participatory approaches in favour of computer generated planning models, he argues that GIS remains vital for facilitating informed discussion and decision making in urban planning.

As a computerized system for the storage, retrieval, visualization, analysis and modeling of spatial information, GIS greatly facilitates different stages of the urban planning process. The growing user friendliness, affordability and performance of GIS in recent times, he notes, has further enhanced its utility as an effective planning support system. He maintains that provided constraints in the use of GIS such as data availability and skill limitations can be overcome, GIS can provide excellent support for the planning of harmonious cities.