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Communities at the Crossroads: Using MetroQuest to Help Communities Create Consensus Around a Vision of the Future

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The Future of Cities and Regions

Part of the book series: Springer Geography ((SPRINGERGEOGR))

Abstract

This chapter describes an innovative tool and process, MetroQuest, for engaging non-expert stakeholders in a meaningful way in the discussion and process of long-range planning for cities and regions. Rooted in participatory scenario-based backcasting approaches to sustainability research that blend quantitative and qualitative analysis MetroQuest enables a broader and richer engagement program than is the norm, as described and explored via two case studies. In both Fort St. John, British Columbia and Chicago, Illinois MetroQuest allowed planning professionals and stakeholder engagement facilitators to create rich discussions via group workshops, that were complemented with individual engagement experiences delivered via web and kiosk. The chapter discusses the successes and shortcomings of this approach.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank those who have contributed to the creation, implementation, and analysis of the MetroQuest model. This includes the team at Envision Sustainability Tools, the original creators of QUEST, Dave Biggs and Dr. John Robinson, researchers at the Geological Survey of Canada, Sonia Talwar, researchers at the University of British Columbia Meg O’Shea, and many others. Equally important are the contributors to the case studies, including the staff and elected officials from the City of Fort St. John and the entire GOTO2040 team at the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. MetroQuest, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6A 1B2

    Mike Walsh

  2. Environmental Change Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3QY, UK

    Sarah Burch

Authors
  1. Mike Walsh
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  2. Sarah Burch
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mike Walsh .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. , DAD -Dipartimento di Architettura e Desi, Politecnico di Torino, Viale Pier Andrea Mattioli 39, Torino, 10125, Italy

    Liliana Bazzanella

  2. , DAD -Dipartimento di Architettura e Desi, Politecnico di Torino, Viale Pier Andrea Mattioli 39, Torino, 10125, Italy

    Luca Caneparo

  3. Higher Institute on Innovative Territori, c.so Castelfidardo 30/a, Torino, 10129, Italy

    Franco Corsico

  4. , DAD -Dipartimento di Architettura e Desi, Politecnico di Torino, Viale Pier Andrea Mattioli 39, Torino, 10125, Italy

    Giuseppe Roccasalva

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© 2012 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.

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Walsh, M., Burch, S. (2012). Communities at the Crossroads: Using MetroQuest to Help Communities Create Consensus Around a Vision of the Future. In: Bazzanella, L., Caneparo, L., Corsico, F., Roccasalva, G. (eds) The Future of Cities and Regions. Springer Geography. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-2518-8_4

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