E-democracy in collaborative planning: a critical review

The history of the use of informatics tools to support collaborative planning is relatively recent. Personal computer, multimedia techniques and the web provided useful technology for the purposes of collaborative processes. Following the advent of Web 2.0, the wide diffusion of electronic devices containing geo-referenced information have resulted in the production of extensive spatial data. The present study will assess how, the collaborative approach to planning can be supported by the Web, also using "Volunteered Geographic Information" (VGI) tools, analyzing the possible benefits and drawbacks using the results of experiences made by the author and available in literature. The chapter starts from an introduction to the collaborative approach and illustrates, in the second paragraph, a first panoramic on criticisms and opportunities in using ICT for collaborative planning. In the third paragraph the paper discuss possible opportunities and risks for participation in urban planning using VGI tools. Conclusions are made in the last paragraph.