Evaluation of People Attitudes Toward Citizen-centered Geographic Information Systems (Case Study: District # 6 of Tehran)

Given the new approaches of urban management, it is necessary to change the expert-driven, closed, intra-organizational and centralized attitude of urban management to open, participatory, voluntary and citizen-centered management. It is important to note that the smart person is one of the essential requirements of the smart city and in fact the emphasis on information and communication technology and electronic life infrastructures cannot achieve the idea of a smart city without considering the smart citizen. In modern, smart urban management, citizen participation plays a prominent role. Citizen-centric Geographic Information Systems (GIS) as a new concept and approach in urban management provides powerful and effective location-based tools and platforms for real citizen participation in urban affairs. Citizen-centered GIS systems have important applications in various areas of urban management including environmental monitoring and control, crisis management, tourism development, transportation development, refurbishment and refurbishment of worn-out urban textures and so on. Today, we see the use of GIS systems and projects becoming more and more public and citizen-centric. Citizen-centered GIS systems seek concepts and technologies based on the location that enable citizens to participate in management and urban decision making. These systems provide a suite of necessary spatial analysis and analysis tools for citizen participation in identifying and reporting problems in the city, providing solutions to improve urban problems, etc. Before implementing these systems, paying attention to the attitude of citizens and their willingness to use these systems is very important. Therefore, the present study assesses the attitude of citizens towards Citizen-centered GIS and examines their willingness to participate in solving urban problems as well as receiving urban services through these systems. In other words, this study examines the level of citizens' interest in using location-based data and analysis as well as the production of data in citizen-centered GIS. In this regard, District 6 of Tehran as one of the most populated and dynamic areas in the center of Tehran was selected as the study area. The results show that 93.6% of the citizens are willing to participate in reporting urban problems, making urban decisions and urban planning. According to the research findings, 53 percent of citizens believe that media advertising is the best way to cultivate and promote the use of these systems. Among the effective factors in motivating citizens to use these systems, simplicity and attractiveness of the system with 44.6% is the most effective factor in motivating participation and use of these systems. According to the majority of citizens (56.9%), the most important obstacle in using these systems is the lack of trust in municipalities in terms of the effect of citizens' opinions and actions. Citizens’ attitude assessment shows that 93.6% of them agree and strongly agree to participate in reporting urban problems, decision making and urban planning through this systems. The results also show that 70.8% of the citizens tend to interact with different urban organizations. Providing urban services through these systems were also well received by respondents, with 89.6% of citizens agreeing and strongly agreeing to receive many urban services through these systems.