The role of Geographical Information System (GIS) in spatial planning: Integrating Land Use and Transport Planning, Scotland

Abstract

Integrated land use and transport systems involve aligning transport infrastructure and services with land uses. The connection between land use and transport systems have been well researched on the influence that one can have on the other. Land use has a big influence and impact on the way transport systems are planned and managed in large cities. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of geographical information systems (GIS) in spatial planning in Scotland with the focus on integrating land use and transport planning. To achieve the aim of this study, two objectives were covered such as profiling different uses of GIS in integrating transport and land use planning in Scotland; and identifying and evaluating barriers affecting GIS use and opportunities for more effectively integrating transport system and land use in Scotland by using GIS. To achieve these objectives, a mixed methods approach with two inter-related elements was used and this includes documents analysis and questionnaire survey. The results from those two methods were put together for the overall analysis of the level to which GIS is being used in Scotland in integrating land us e and transport planning. The findings have shown that GIS is being used in geospatial analysis; map production; monitoring; integrated land use and transport planning; visualization; data management; data collection; transport network analysis; traffic management; transport accessibility analysis; land use and transport interaction modelling and policy development, assessment and decision making of proposals. Furthermore, it has been found out that advanced data structure, as an opportunity in using GIS, is the key success in the integration of land use and transport planning. However, after exploring the barriers that affect the utilization of GIS in land use and transport planning, the results are showing that the applications of GIS still confront many barriers, including: lack of awareness; lack of communication; entry cost; lack of required software; insufficient data sources; lacks of computing power; usability; data accessibility and availability are the common barriers encountered in any planning process. Therefore, despite all of these applications of geographic information systems evidenced by this current research, these barriers to the use of GIS show that the potential of GIS as a planning tool is not being fully exploited in the domains of integrating land use and transport planning in Scotland. Finally, some recommendations have been drawn up for the sake of Scotland strategic development planning process and these include: the interaction of accessibility, transport 2 and the development strategy should be considered early in the planning process; land allocations should take account of transport opportunities and impacts, relating settlement strategy to the capacity of the transport network and identifying where economic growth or regeneration requires additional transport infrastructure, including transport assessments and travel plans; local plans should express the relationship between development proposals and transport at a local level in accord with the policy contained in the Scottish Planning Policy; due to some barriers from users, GIS training are required to meet demands for different level of users; transportation planners should use integrated land use and transport GIS models to forecast how future travel demand will be affected by land use; transportation agencies should develop mechanisms to engage with local land planning processes as a way to bridge the divides created by divisions of responsibility for transportation and land use. This will be one of the responses that can help to strengthen linkages between transportation and land use.