Public Participation And Decision Model In Planning Under The Network Environment

Public participation has always been a popular topic in urban planning. It doesn’t only have influence on the decision progress and the result of implementation of urban planning program, but also relates to social equity, becoming a sign of democratic society and social progress. As the civil society becoming mature and government experiencing transformation, the public has a higher enthusiasm in participating urban planning progress. Especially, the booming development of Internet provides wider platform for public participation, making information flow in net structure, bringing development for the traditional decision model. Therefore, this thesis would take Zhonggulou renovation project in Beijing as example, and uncover the change of public participation and decision model in urban planning through Internet.Conception of public participation and ladder theory are sorted out through the literature review, and participation model combined government, planner, expert and stakeholder is settled. Then the theory of web participation and data of China Internet are reviewed, which suggest Internet would bring change to the traditional participation model. On the basis of theory review, this thesis also carries on empirical study taking the example of Zhonggulou renovation project in Beijing, searching relevant information on micro blog and blog, studying the expression and interaction of participants, judging the substantive effect of web participation.The conclusions are as followed:(1) The scope of participants has been expanded under network environment. Participants in traditional urban planning include government, planner, expert and stakeholder, with the peripheral public remaining outside. Under the network environment, historic preservers and other activists would participate besides the ones mentioned above. Historic preservers, who are professional in the area and aware of relevant laws and cases, would participate by delivering and sharing information, questioning government notice and attending symposium. Non-government organization would conduct fiend research, review the literature and post the report. Peripheral public would also give their diverse opinions occasionally.(2) Public participation has been brought forward under network environment. During the traditional urban planning progress, public is only allowed in the participation at several spots, like investigation, planning scheme publicity and symposium, while the participation window is closed for most time. Under network environment, the public could participate earlier. After the project proposed, public could present questions and suggestions at anytime through Internet, and the government would respond accordingly. Thus, the limit of participation window is removed.(3) Participation on network would have substantive impact on planning program. On the side of period, participation on network would pressure the government, which may result in the addition of investigation, design and argumentation, hence prolong the period. On the side of content, the pressure of participation could make the government adjust the boundary and content of planning, but would hardly force the government to accept their opinion completely.(4) Discourse power remains unequal in the process of planning participation on network. According to the existing theories and surveys, people tend to be optimistic about the power of network in changing political framework and promoting social equity. In the practical process of participation on network, however, government, celebrities and experts still have more discourse power than peripheral public. The structure of network society is nothing but mapping of the real society. In addition, network may have enlarged the information gap between different groups for the digital divide issue and aggravated the uneven chances of participation.