gms | German Medical Science

Health-related environmental hazards and burdens such as air or noise pollution are major societal challenges nowadays. They can be conceptualized as wicked problems, which are characterized as complex, open-ended, and intractable, while both the nature of the problem and the preferred solution are strongly contested among stakeholders. State of the art geo-information tools are a potential contribution for addressing such wicked problems in a multi-stakeholder setting. The value of such geo-information tools ranges from problem solver to problem mediator or problem recognizer, depending on the type policy problem at hand. We have developed interactive geo-information tools implemented on large-scale tangible user interfaces (maptables) that are meant to facilitate the collaboration of stakeholders in spatial planning process. Using various case studies, I discuss in the talk how such interactive geo-Information tools can help engaging with citizens and other stakeholders in addressing wicked problem settings. I reflect on the options and opportunities of such new digital technologies for stakeholder collaboration and deliberate pitfalls and further research needs.