Public Preferences on the Use of Visualization in the Public Involvement Process in Transportation Planning

Abstract

This study examines public preferences on the use of visualization techniques to involve the public in transportation planning. Two projects were selected, and prototype two-dimensional, three-dimensional, and four-dimensional visualization models were developed. The models were presented at public meetings where stated preference surveys were conducted. The same models were also presented in a survey conducted via the Internet. A majority of both the 31 questionnaire respondents and the 136 Internet-based survey respondents ranked the two-dimensional, three-dimensional, and four-dimensional visualization techniques in increasing order of their abilities to convey the proposed project concepts. More than 71% of the respondents thought that transportation planning agencies should devote more time and budget to develop advanced visualization models to encourage public participation. In addition, more than 75% of the respondents indicated that they would be more willing to participate and encourage others to participate in the public involvement process if better visualization tools were used.