The City of Lahti's entire master planning process was digitalized four years ago. Now citizens and specialists can provide information related to the master plan using the Trimble Locus -system. Also Trimble Feedback -application is used for soliciting citizen input.
Information is processed and presented to decision-makers and residents. The results are then logged on Trimble Locus. Anybody can visit the City of Lahti's website and view the planning guidelines produced using this system. When Master Planning Architect Johanna Palomäki from the City of Lahti's Technical and Environmental Services unit in Finland talks about digitalizing planning, it becomes clear that the results have been very positive.
"The electronic master plan has made our operations more efficient. It is a good way to work", Palomäki says. "When residents or municipal employees use the feedback service to make statements or provide feedback on the master plan, the information is saved. I don't need to worry, even if I cannot respond immediately."
"The electronic master plan process puts citizen feedback on a par with expert knowledge. By involving citizens more deeply in the master planning process, we have fostered a greater sense of community and trust", Palomäki says.
Lahti's feedback service was used to conduct a survey entitled "Information is built in society", which enabled citizens to present their visions of Lahti in 2025. It was also possible to make electronic statements on draft and proposed master plans. "During our most recent community consultation, we received more feedback electronically than by any other means."
Lahti uses master planning software that enables different geographic information sets to be superimposed. Traffic surveys, information on culturally or historically significant environments, or the nesting sites of flying squirrels can be placed on top of the basic map. Now service network plans are also aligned with geographic information. "We can make wiser predictions for the future", concludes Palomäki.
