ABSTRACT
Planning has undergone significant change as a political, governmental and professional process over time and has also been impacted by the technological and digital revolution. But what has been missing to date has been a detailed analysis of how the digital turn is reshaping both urban planning and wider society's interaction with planning issues. That digital technology has been used for political ends, or used by some people to grand-stand their extreme views, the so-called dark side of the web, is perhaps not that surprising. Scientific and engineering innovations that were once intended for strategic military and research use have now been commodified and marketed for personal consumers. The role of, and emphasis given to, digital technology and data in governing and shaping future developments is experiencing a resurgence, where increasingly sophisticated models and digital twins are being developed that replicate and simulate real cities. The chapter also presents an overview on the key concepts discussed in this book.
