The need for Computer Visualisation Studies in Empirical Planning

The literature review makes clear that while considerable attention has been paid to the many aspects of technology, informed analysis of the implications of computer

visualisation developments for planning practice is distinctly lacking, and worthy of far more attention and consideration in the UK. Encouraged by the fast and efficient

development of the technology, planning professionals have taken an interest in employing computer visualisations within their practices. Although scientists and visualisation

preparers have addressed the question of how to implement visualisation within planning practice, the approach they have adopted is mostly too technical and superficial, implying that few, if any, credibility studies with special reference to the planning output have been conducted. As a result, effort has focused on the main factors influencing the usage and potential of computer visualisation within planning, and the dynamics behind

implementing computer visualisation in relation to the UK planning process.

A number of planning studies have been conducted by academics from a technical and a media perspective, rather than the empirical planning adaptation point of view. These two viewpoints differ significantly in that the former focuses mainly on the technical

capabilities of computer visualisation media and its potential while the latter is primarily concerned with identifying the dynamics of technology in the planning process, including roles, validity, and realism. That is, the social science point of view aims to examine empirically the actual determinants of the development management and to investigate how these are related to the dynamics of the implementation of computer visualisation and how they influence the planning decision. This thesis adopts a more social science point of view.

It is important to note why I feel that computer visualisation studies within the context of planning should be conducted from a social science point of view. Firstly, it is important to consider if computer visualisation can improve the process of development management and why the level of technology employed has varied in between planning applications and different stages thereof. Although the implementation of visualisation within planning is dependent on the specifics of the individual planning application and the interested parties involved, there may be common trends emerging across applications. This may help identify the potentialities and threats emerging from the application of visualisation, where it is also important to understand the roles of planners and other professionals within this process.

Secondly, through understanding the way in which modern technology attributes and affects planning decisions, we can identify the necessary conditions under which central- government-initiated policy guidelines or the policies of professional bodies may be implemented successfully.

Third, few professionals have been sensitive to the contested and dynamic process of employing computer visualisation for their planning applications and academic

explanations fail to capture how the implementation process works at the local level and the way in which it influences planning decisions. The study of computer visualisation in planning presented here can provide us with some useful information as to what factors have affected the public consultation and assessment methods used. Such questionnaires are far from being of mere academic interest, but rather one of critical importance to scientists, technicians, professionals, local planning authorities, and private contractors.

In particular, the review of the literature finds that relatively few studies report on issues of credibility or validity coefficients. That gives a reason for some concern.

This review does not purport to provide a comprehensive list of all the research conducted up until now, nor to evaluate all studies in detail. Furthermore, the taxonomy of the

literature on computer visualisation and environmental planning process offered here is undoubtedly incomplete. Its categories are inevitably partially overlapping, and the specific examples presented under each heading can only hint at the broad array of studies that each category subsumes. Nevertheless, the taxonomy may prove useful in so far as the

environmental planning carried out in the fields of town and country planning, computing science, etc.

A more sophisticated explanation of the trends is required in order to answer the main questions that arise from an appreciation of the literature. First, how computer visualisation is implemented in the UK planning? Second, what are the current issues faced in the planning implementation?

In an attempt to rectify the shortcomings of the literature, it has suggested that study of a computer visualisation within planning is required to answer these questions. Such a study should consider the main determinants of planning decision in greater detail. It should also explore the ways in which the main factors in the process of employing computer

visualisation interact, in order to provide an insight into the dynamics of the process. This will mean that the opinion and reflections of the key participants are considered when examining planning decisions. Accordingly, in the next chapter I begin to build the methodologies of the study in order to identify objectively the main factors involved in computer visualisation in planning.

CHAPTER 3 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY