**1. Introduction**

#### **1.1. Study context**

In recent years, providing public role in decision-making regarding spatial problems has developed an ease for geographic information technology adept in supporting collaborative spatial decision-making. According to Densham et al. [1], it has been stated that geographical information system is the technology to sustain PPGIS, but expert methods are needed to reinforce spatial decision-making in a collective way. Although now geographical information system and PPGIS are not prototype to assist multiuser associations, many approaches may require group-based involvement for decision-making. The idea of collaborative geographical information system, computer-supported cooperative work (CSCW), and collaborative decision support systems (DSS) was proposed as information technology to provide understanding about spatial complications and provide computer-based spatial decision-making [2].

**1.2. Study objectives**

The study aims to develop a real-time map sharing mechanism and collaborative PPGIS (Co-PPGIS) and for collaborative assessment the amalgamation of other open source-based groupware solutions on an effective GIS-based meeting platform. The aim of this study was also (1) to assure that Co-PPGIS model will help to improve or increase involvement of participants and will provide assistance to decision-makers in reaching a final decision efficiently; (2) to explain certain facts or observations, i.e., core concepts, design and technology, etc., with an overview of enabling technologies for analyzing and designing a successful real-time map sharing framework; and (3) to describe a prototype development based on case scenarios that looks into integrating CSCW principles and open-source groupware tools with web-based GIS. In order to assist municipal planning and development through a better and effective decision-making process, the primary research goal is to develop a web GIS-based contemporary collaborative participatory infrastructure. In order to fulfill the main research's

Collaborative Public Participatory Web Geographic Information System: A Groupware-Based…

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.79354

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1. To gain better and effective understanding of the PPGIS nature, its culture, its limitations, and basic requirements by modeling general as well as high-level participation requirements after proper and complete analysis of the municipal planning and development

2. To portray collaborative, real-time web GIS-based participatory infrastructure that can employ open-source geospatial data, standards, software tools, and web services

This research primarily encompasses the working mechanism of real-time collaborative web

Increasing importance of the need for an effective public participation in a decision-making process during municipal planning and development is on the main focus in this section of study. Through the integration of GIS technologies, involvement of public or local stakeholders in decision-making can become more effective. Public meetings, which is one of the traditional methods of public participation, is integrated in some PPGIS projects to accumulate public ideas, values, and preferences [15]. Collaborative use of GIS-based services encompasses the involvement of public and planners in the decision-making process with geo-conceptualizing a map and accommodating public and planners to build local spatial knowledge and exchange ideas. In order to get instantaneous access and conceptualize the spatial information and participate in decision-making process, collaborative GIS-based services provide opportunities to local stakeholder [16]. An increased public participation can lead to a better and effective decision-making because the processes of decision-making and public participation have a direct relationship which means that better decision-making pro-

map sharing framework that is going to be addressed within a fixed time period.

cesses can also lead to an increase in a user's participation and vice versa.

(P&D) process workflows and by reviewing the existing online PPGIS applications

goal, this study will focus on achieving the following objectives:

**1.3. Background and literature review**

Multiuser collaboration is playing its role in many works involving stakeholders from different departments and organizations, in which mapmaking sometimes play a main role for giving visual information for the support to decision-making [3]. Web technology is rapidly expanding its range and has made it possible to take decisions over the web. Due to demands for web-based open mapping, an Application Programming Interface (API) united with other information systems and CSCW tools has become more important for the support of real-time map sharing output. Accordingly, the development of map-based applications for real-time collaborative is one effective step taken by researchers who are efficiently working in many fields, e.g., emergency system, urban planning projects, municipality management, GIS data production, monitoring of urban sprawl and epidemic spread, and many more that assimilate collaborative role [4–9].

A concurrent approach is made for the support of collaboration among the users [6]; although, little work has been done on developing and designing such open-source software (OSS) which is based on online map sharing tools and support real-time collaboration. By assessing the researchers' work and their contributions from the literature review, this study aims to develop an outline about the significance of the execution of irreplaceable and sufficient methods, tools, and techniques to fill the gap in the research. Multiuser synchronous discussions and communications among the people and between the community and stakeholders sometime improve the understanding that shows an effective feedback and magnifies decision-making [10–14]. This paper actually shows a customizable framework used for an online system for collaboration with the installation of different web GIS, OSGIS, OSS-based tools, and open mapping APIs on geographic information to solve the issues that are related to emergency/disaster occurrence and municipal planning. Additionally, the study anticipates designing an open mapping API-based real-time collaborative synchronous infrastructure with the option of installing local data for improving the involvement of during debate. Some of these research prototype elements based on this kind of model are still in development procedure and in its starting stage in the house applicable testing.
