Paper Type
Complete
Abstract
The digital transformation towards zero-pollution cities requires a systemic approach that integrates technologies, communities, and institutions. Participatory environmental information systems (PEIS) aim to support both public decisions and increase civic awareness and activity. This paper develops a systems-based conceptual framework of PEIS and derives design implications for their implementation in urban governance contexts. The framework is grounded in a narrative literature review, focusing on the structure and dynamics of interactions between technological, social, institutional, and cultural components. The analysis identifies key system elements and conceptualizes their interactions in terms of reinforcing and balancing feedback loops, including mechanisms related to awareness and participation, institutional responsiveness and perceived efficacy, and data legitimacy, trust, and policy impact. These dynamics are further constrained by balancing processes linked to digital exclusion and institutional limitations, as well as by time delays and cultural context, which serve as a cross-cutting moderating factor. Based on this analysis, the paper derives design implications for the development of PEIS in zero-pollution cities, emphasizing the importance of institutional responsiveness, inclusiveness, transparency in data governance, and alignment between citizen participation and decision-making processes. These findings are relevant for both researchers and urban practitioners, offering a structured foundation for designing PEIS that can effectively support sustainable urban transformations.
Paper Number
1560
Recommended Citation
Duda, Ewa; Taylor, Jonathon; and Espinosa Mireles de Villaranca, Alonso, "Participatory Environmental Information Systems in Urban Governance: Design Implications from a Systems Thinking Perspective" (2026). AMCIS 2026 Proceedings. 3.
https://aisel.aisnet.org/amcis2026/ccris/sig_ccris/3
Participatory Environmental Information Systems in Urban Governance: Design Implications from a Systems Thinking Perspective
The digital transformation towards zero-pollution cities requires a systemic approach that integrates technologies, communities, and institutions. Participatory environmental information systems (PEIS) aim to support both public decisions and increase civic awareness and activity. This paper develops a systems-based conceptual framework of PEIS and derives design implications for their implementation in urban governance contexts. The framework is grounded in a narrative literature review, focusing on the structure and dynamics of interactions between technological, social, institutional, and cultural components. The analysis identifies key system elements and conceptualizes their interactions in terms of reinforcing and balancing feedback loops, including mechanisms related to awareness and participation, institutional responsiveness and perceived efficacy, and data legitimacy, trust, and policy impact. These dynamics are further constrained by balancing processes linked to digital exclusion and institutional limitations, as well as by time delays and cultural context, which serve as a cross-cutting moderating factor. Based on this analysis, the paper derives design implications for the development of PEIS in zero-pollution cities, emphasizing the importance of institutional responsiveness, inclusiveness, transparency in data governance, and alignment between citizen participation and decision-making processes. These findings are relevant for both researchers and urban practitioners, offering a structured foundation for designing PEIS that can effectively support sustainable urban transformations.
Comments
SIG CCRIS