The significance of geographical information systems for development planning

Based on the experiences in the City of Cape Town, this article argues that technological progress should be utilised to undergird urban and regional planning in South and southern Africa for at least three reasons. First, as far as planning for the future is concerned, information technology can help us come to grips with the multiple challenges facing the new South Africa. Second, information technology would provide structural leverage in the formulation, adoption and implementation of community‐driven development pro grammes. Third, it would enable local authorities to cooperate across jurisdictional boundaries to promote substantive information sharing and proactive planning strategies.

Notes

Principal Planning Professional, Policy and Research, Cape Town, and Lecturer, School of Government, University of the Western Cape. The author wishes to thank the anony mous referees for their useful comments on an earlier draft of this article, as well as Mr Doug Milne, Head of Information Services of the Metropolitan Council of Cape Town, for his invaluable support.