Development of planning support systems: A systematic review of the Chinese language literature

Abstract

Due to the increasing complexity of cities and the involvement of multiple stakeholders in urban planning, the field encompasses vast amounts of information, expertise, planning tools, and communication skills. Planning support systems (PSS) are geo-information-technology-based instruments that offer a suite of supportive tools to aid the urban planning process. Over the past three decades, PSS has seen widespread exploration and implementation globally, including within the rapidly evolving context of China. Nonetheless, language barriers have posed challenges in reviewing and synthesizing PSS advancements documented in Chinese publications. To provide a thorough and objective perspective of the achievements in Chinese literature for international scholars, this study adopts a systematic review methodology. It screens 68 relevant high-quality articles from the China National Knowledge Infrastructure and conducts statistical analyses on them, focusing on publication time, geographic distribution, fields of study, etc. Then it mainly summarizes the development of foundational elements and the applications of the systems. It is found that in terms of system elements, China has developed some unique theories and corresponding planning models, alongside exploring various technological aspects. In applications, PSS serves various functions across different subfields, reflecting the division of labor in China’s planning process and the orientation of its policies. Future research avenues could encompass the creation of policy-driven comprehensive management functions, the development of systems tailored to specific contexts, and the exploration of new technologies like Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and generative Artificial Intelligence to boost PSS functionality and efficiency.