Digital realm: Implications on urban development and planning

The implications of ICT on urban planning and development is the topic of this paper. At the outset, the relationship between the 'intelligent environment', and planning and development is outlined, followed by the discussion on new perspectives in the planning value system, and creation of the value-chains. The ICT based planning products and processes are outlined and explored. The author argues that ICT not only affects the very understanding of planning, its role and its attributes, but also changes the planning's scope, and the character of its performance. The challenges to the ICT alternative are highlighted in the last section, and debated vis-à-vis observed benefits. Implications for the concrete planning practice are at the heart of the overall discussion. .