Information and Communication Technology: A New Aspect in Urban and Regional Planning

The task has been to study the supposition that the development of the new information and communication technology (ICT) and its applications as a new form of traffic will, with time and the development of information society, influence spatial development and should therefore be taken into account in urban and regional planning. The study shows that the development of traditional traffic forms had had an impact on spatial development, in creating new opportunities for economic life and at same time facilitating the expansion of settled areas. It became clear in the study that spatial planning had had an impact on the spatial construction of society. Developed countries are moving from the industrial and service era towards information society. ICT has played and will play an essential role in this process. In the past ten years, eg in Finland, countrywide information networks have been built. At same time many individuals and different organisations have applied the opportunities offered by new technology in handling and transmitting data, as well as in communication. ICT will change the meaning of time and distance, and give more freedom for the location of activities and functions in which the specific features of place will be further highlighted. Many researchers have the view that ICT has diversified spatial impact. Regions, cities and municipalities will face new challenges in developing their ability to compete. These development factors should be taken into account in spatial planning. Finnish urban and regional planners, according to the results of the survey carried out in the study, were of the same opinion with experts that ICT is an important factor to be taken into account in spatial planning. The planners did not think that ICT will cause immediate and rapid spatial changes but that the changes will take place gradually. Planners saw opportunities in applying new planning principles in their work, eg developing new types of communities and reducing the need to commute between home and work. The general conclusion of the thesis is that ICT should be taken into account in urban and regional planning as an important factor influencing spatial change. An ICT-infrastructure should be included in the content of a plan, spatial impact of ICT should be studied in the planning process and the new functional and spatial possibilities ICT offers should be used in preparing the plans. In conclusion, the study flags up the following recommendations: increase research about the role of ICT and its spatial impact, develop new planning methods and offer further education and training to planners, and update planning legislation, planning guidelines and Finland's National Land Use Guidelines to include guidance on the role of ICT in planning.reviewe