TECHNOLOGICAL SOLUTIONS TO ENCOURAGE CIVIC ENGAGEMENT IN URBAN PLANNING: EXPERTS’ PERSPECTIVES

: The smart city concept is primarily grounded on the use of technology to provide robust solutions to the complex urban problems and endorse sustainable development practices to enhance the citizen’s quality of life. The use of technology for citizen participation is indispensable for effective city planning, especially at the local level. The study attempts to identify notions regarding a technological approach to city planning in the form of variables through literature and eventually categorize them as catalysts and hurdles for the eloquent participatory city planning. The study is based on a primary survey with city planning experts. The adaptability of the identified variables is assessed through the perception of the experts, weighed on the five-point Likert scale. The findings intend to facilitate policy makers and practitioners in highlighting the use of technology in a city planning framework.