Citizen Platforms: Enhancing Public Participation in Urban Decision-Making via Mobile-Based Applications

Technological advancements in recent decades have fundamentally transformed traditional models of urban governance. A significant manifestation of this transformation is the emergence of digital-based citizen platforms, particularly mobile-centric applications, aimed at enhancing public participation in urban decision-making processes. These platforms facilitate direct, rapid, and interactive communication between citizens and municipal authorities, serving as innovative tools for soliciting feedback, reporting urban issues, prioritizing public demands, and increasing the transparency of public sector operations. This study adopts an analytical-descriptive approach to examine the role of mobile applications in fostering public participation in urban governance. Initially, the concept of public participation and its significance within urban governance are elucidated. Subsequently, mobile applications are introduced as novel infrastructures for citizen-government interaction. The study further discusses the integration of these technologies into urban decision-making processes, alongside their advantages, potentials, and inherent challenges. The conceptual findings suggest that mobile-centric applications can provide a robust foundation for promoting public participation by improving accessibility, communication speed, transparency, accountability, and data-driven insights. However, their success is contingent upon factors such as digital literacy, public trust, technical infrastructure, information security, and the institutional commitment of urban management. Consequently, the effective utilization of citizen platforms requires a paradigm shift that transcends mere technological instrumentalism, advocating instead for an integrated approach to urban governance.

کلیدواژه ها:

Urban Governance ، Public Participation ، Mobile Applications ، Citizen Platforms ، Digital Transformation ، Data-Driven Decision-Making