Using 3D Visualisation to Improve Public Participation in Sustainable Planning Process: Experiences through the Creation of Koh Mudsum Plan, Thailand

Efficient public participation can help government officials and planners to achieve better planning alternatives. In Thailand, it is becoming increasingly important to local government to increase public participation in planning process. However, involving the public is always problematic and low-level participation still occurs in most planning activities. In this paper, we argue that in most cases, public lacks sufficient knowledge about the qualities of place, problems, and potential solutions is the main barrier for meaningful involvement. Thus more effective tools are required to clearly display local planning proposals and their consequences. The paper demonstrates the use of three-dimensional (3D) models to improve the public participation in planning process of the specific plan for Koh Mudsum, an island near Koh Samui. With the 3D modelling concept, Geographic Information System (GIS) and Computer-Aided Design (CAD) were used to simulate three dimensions of site conditions. Different planning alternatives were displayed in 3D that allowed participants to compare proposals and consequences for the visual environment. Through the public participation process, it found that providing information about the site conditions and plan using 3D models can improve the public knowledge and help them understand the proposed land- use plan and its impacts. It is likely that using 3D models can make the planning process more transparent for all involved parties especially for participants without any training in interpreting planning map.