The Delivery System of Development Impact Assessment Using GIS-based Technology: Towards Sustainable Urban Environment

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to discuss the establishment of a GIS-based technology as a reliable delivery system in predicting the development impact assessment (DIA) due to proposed development. The paper highlights about the ability of the system that could anticipate the environmental quality due to any development within certain geographical setting. The system is a customised modelling system that integrates the strength of GIS in supporting planning decision making process via prediction of development impact assessment (DIA) for various projects. It is in this respect that a prototype of GIS-based modelling that enables to anticipate development-environmental impacts at an early stage of project planning has been established. Design/methodology/approach - We propose an approach of integrating the selected various information and its series of pre-determined development impacts for the environment, social and economic dimensions. The framework of this system on predicting development impact assessment (DIA) relies on baseline data, models, spatial and statistical analyses, locating in a Planning Information Database (PID). Expert knowledge gathered in a 'what-if' scenario analysis is applied as it can help charting possible complex linkages between criteria in which planning database is derived by compiling data from multiple sources (Klosterman & Pettit, 2005; Swart, Raskin & Robinson, 2004). The design principle used was the extension of the functionality of a GIS system in facilitating planning decision support making process. An integrated various sub-systems allows the analysis of environmental, social and economic dimensions to generate the results of impacts of proposed development in the form of spatial and textual data. Originality/value - This methodology puts in evidence the strengths and ability of GIS as a planning and decision-making tool when it relates with complex situation in reality world (Drummond & French, 2008; Gocmen, 2009). The system has the value of incorporating the complexity of real world into a decision-making process system whereby it offers a workable mechanism for the local government. Practical implications - The outcomes of the application of GIS-based technology facilitate local government in predicting the possible development impacts due to proposed developments. This can fasten the typical operation in regulating and controlling development changes by the local government who can now rely more on the IT advancement, i.e. via a customised development impact assessment (DIA). It is practical as it gives more information in terms of possible impacts (ranging from environment, social and economy) that would happen due to certain proposed development. This system can facilitate the government in shaping urban development sustainably. Consequently, we hope that the implication of this development impact assessment (DIA) can benefits the local government as the authority governing land matters in their jurisdiction.