Plan Canada - Vol 38 No 5 (1998)
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Item Plan Canada - Volume 38, Number 5 (September 1998)(Canadian Institute of Planners, 1998-09)Technology and planning|Technologie et urbanismeItem Contents(Canadian Institute of Planners, 1998-09)Table of contents for Plan Canada - Volume 38, Number 5 (September 1998).Item The shape of the information city: Understanding the impacts of the information revolution on city form(Canadian Institute of Planners, 1998-09) Blais, PamelaThe shape, organization, and evolution of cities are increasingly being determined by a new dynamic with its own logic: the information revolution. This article argues that the nature of this urban change goes well beyond teleworking and points to four key areas of impact that have important implications for cities and for planners.Item Rounding up with the POSSE: Moving from the paper world to the electronic world(Canadian Institute of Planners, 1998-09) Caldwell, Robert; Mines, Joni; Fraser, DuncanPOSSE (Public One-Stop Service) is a flexible information system developed by the City of Edmonton Planning and Development Department and marketed worldwide. In addition to being cost effective and efficient, it supported - indeed made possible - vital organizational change within the department. Implementation of POSSE resulted in a dramatic improvement in customer service, decision-making, budget management, system maintenance, workflow management, and storage and retrieval of information. POSSE also demonstrates the value of public/private sector partnerships, and the ability of such partnerships to market a product that can be used around the world.Item Rewiring the mega-city: Information technology and the amalgamation of planning activities at the new City of Toronto(Canadian Institute of Planners, 1998-09) Sussman, Raphael; Dynes, SteveOn January 1, 1998, the seven municipalities that previously comprised Metropolitan Toronto were amalgamated to become a new, unified City of Toronto. More than 50,000 municipal employees were affected in the move, and the size of the City's combined annual budget approaches that of some small countries. Urban planning and development services have been consolidated into a single department that is responsible for planning, building, municipal standards, and licensing activity. Information technology will help to link functions, services, and staff across all of the former jurisdictions and each of the discrete activities of the new City, and serve as a catalyst in the achievement of consistency, efficiency, and convenience. Although it will be years before the dust settles, this article discusses some of the key technology-related issues of which municipal planning practitioners should be aware if such an amalgamation should be required of them.