Planning support tools and their effects in participatory urban adaptation workshops

Sadie McEvoy; Frans H M van de Ven; Michiel W Blind; Jill H Slinger

doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2017.10.041

Planning support tools and their effects in participatory urban adaptation workshops

J Environ Manage. 2018 Feb 1:207:319-333. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2017.10.041. Epub 2017 Dec 12.

Authors

Sadie McEvoy¹, Frans H M van de Ven², Michiel W Blind³, Jill H Slinger⁴

Affiliations

¹ Deltares, PO Box 177, 2600 MH Delft, The Netherlands; Department of Policy Analysis, Faculty of Technology Policy and Management, Delft University of Technology, PO Box 5015, 2600 GA, Delft, The Netherlands. Electronic address: sadie.mcevoy@deltares.nl.
² Deltares, PO Box 177, 2600 MH Delft, The Netherlands; Department of Water Resources Management, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Delft University of Technology, PO Box 5048, 2600 GA Delft, The Netherlands.
³ Deltares, PO Box 177, 2600 MH Delft, The Netherlands.
⁴ Department of Policy Analysis, Faculty of Technology Policy and Management, Delft University of Technology, PO Box 5015, 2600 GA, Delft, The Netherlands; Institute for Water Research, Rhodes University, PO Box 94, Grahamstown 6140, South Africa.

PMID: 29179119
DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2017.10.041

Abstract

In the face of a changing climate, many cities are engaged in adaptation planning and are using participatory workshops to involve stakeholders in these initiatives. Different tools are being used to structure the process and content of participatory planning workshops, but it is unclear what effect the tools have on the workshops and their results. We evaluated three different tools (Group Model Building, the Adaptation Support Tool, and the Stress Test Guideline) and a tool-free approach in repeated simulated workshops, to observe and compare (1) the way workshops played out, and (2) the direct outcomes that were achieved. Tools appear to influence both aspects. Specifically, we measured differences in the learning effects in groups, in the development of shared understanding within groups, in the types of plans that are developed by groups, and in the nature of participation during the workshops. Further research is needed to translate these results into practice, but this is a first step in advancing knowledge about the influence of tools in participatory planning activities.

Keywords: Evaluation; Participatory planning; Planning support tool; Resilient cities; Stakeholder engagement; Urban adaptation planning practice.

MeSH terms

Cities*
Climate
Climate Change*
Environmental Policy
Research