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This chapter examines the pivotal relationship between e-planning applications and their organizational context. It employs various evaluation frameworks by searching explicit and implicit structures behind the implementation process. The study is largely based on the statement that 'the organizational and user dimension of implementation factors more than technical ones, constitute the main obstacles to the improvement of e-planning tools in urban planning agencies'. The empirical part of the study scrutinizes the personal and situational factors of users in the process of implementation, benefits and constraints of an e-planning implementation and planning practitioners' perception of new technologies on urban planning practice and debate. Using a case study research in Turkish local governments, the findings of this study reveal that the organizational and human aspects of high order information systems are still the biggest obstacle in the implementation process.

Since the end of 1980s, different sectors have implemented geographical information systems (GIS) in Turkey. A study on GIS market in Turkey indicates that municipalities are the primary customers (Gülersoy & Yigiter, 1999). One of the earliest GIS projects in Turkey began with the production of digital maps covering the boundaries of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality in 1987. Since 1994, a rapid development process has occurred with the widespread diffusion of GIS especially in universities and large public sector organizations respectively. However, the early city-wide municipal GIS projects were initiated only after 1996 (Ucuzal, 1999).

Thesis (Doctoral)--Izmir Institute of Technology, City and Regional Planning, Izmir, 2004 ; Includes bibliographical references (leaves: 175) ; Text in English; Abstract: Turkish and English ; xiii, 185 leaves ; This study argues the pivotal relationship between the computing technology and its organizational context. It focuses on nature of implementation in organizational settings that are becoming increasingly important. A further motivation point for this study is to reveal the different discourses (managerial/political/emotional etc.) in the cycle of implementation. The assumption behind this interest is that IT and other technologies are not value-neutral and these tools have the possibility of shaping the goals and agenda of the planning profession.As a part of methodology of the thesis, a comprehensive literature survey was completed around the theoretical issues that constitutes the framework of IT/IS adoption in organizations with a particular reference to urban planning and management. The statements and research questions were tested in the planning departments of selected metropolitan municipalities (Ankara, Izmir, and Bursa) that are experiencing information technologies and systems in various implementation stages. The research strategy was based on a variety of qualitative approaches, including two different types of closed questionnaire-based surveys and semi-structured/unstructured interviews. To measure the success/failure degree of the planning technologies used in the case study organizations in the 'user' dimension of the study, DeLone and McLean.s (1992) IS Success Model and Heeks'(1999) ITPOSMO model were used.Case study research revealed the current stands of ICT implementation in urban planning departments of local governments. It was also evaluated planning practitioner.s commitment and dependence towards computerized planning tools in working practice. In a more exploratory context, a progressive research agenda for ICT implementation in public planning agencies was developed based on the implications of empirical research and literature-based analysis.

Thesis (Master)--Izmir Institute of Technology, City and Regional Planning, Izmir, 1998 ; Includes bibliographical references (leaves: 188-192) ; Text in English; Abstract: Turkish and English ; xi, 203 leaves ; This study aims; to detennine evolving process of urban street and street design approaches through history, to examine general street design considerations and the pedestrian friendly street design policies, to introduce traffic calming measures as an effective new method in the revitalization of the urban streets; and to offer traffic calming techniques and policies as a new alternative in the restructuring of Turkish cities' streets. The case study focused on the application of the traffic calming measures in an intensively urbanized central area in izmir. Pragmatic approach indicated that the implementation of traffic calming techniques may work efficiently in Turkish cities if the wide range neighborhood traffic improvement programs can be applied. These programs may include following approaches in a wider sense: establishment of traffic safety education for children and adults, encouragement of city and neighborhood streets as community space rather than car space, implementation of new urban design methods for enhancing safety and livability, improvement of efficiency and effectiveness of traffic laws and legislate changes in funding and our traffic laws to provide safe and accessible conditions for non-car users. On the other hand, the promotion of traffic calming measures throughout the country can only be provided with the construction of the model projects and the preparation of the traffic calming design guidelines by the significant municipalities.No doubt that, the application of the area-wide traffic calming schemes will have the major role in the creating of walkable streets in our cities and towns.

A European Union (EU) membership perspective is important for Turkey's harmonization with EU standards, which could have positive outcomes especially in the area of smart environmental management. However, as recent political developments suggest, Turkey is losing hope of full EU membership, and is searching for alternatives, such as privileged partnership. Active contributions of city-level good practices are urgently needed. Policy learning is a part of this process, and an emergent result of ever-changing negotiations involving a multiplicity of actors at the multi-level perspective (MLP). The present study investigates the glocal environmental policy of Izmir, via a review of recent governmental environmentally sensitive local innovative practices. The findings reveal that innovative environments that increase learning-by-doing and learning-by-using will become critical for environmental policy learning in Izmir and perhaps beyond.

Marmara region's local governments in Turkey are setting the benchmark for the country in the implementation of spatial information systems and e-governance. The chapter aims to shed light on organizational realities of recent practices of information systems and technologies based on the evidences from selected local government organizations in the Marmara region. This chapter scrutinizes these practices and discusses the pivotal relationship between the information and communication technologies and its local organizational context within the region. The chapter also exemplifies challenges and opportunities of the Marmara as an emerging information and communication technology-supported region by illustrating the specific information and communication technology supply instruments. The chapter reveals that the particular success in supply side does not guarantee the sustainable information and communication technology implementation. There are other concerns including demand side that are strongly linked to a realistic understanding of end user demand, the institutional capacity of respected organizations, public-private partnership, and the joined-up policy efforts at both national and local levels.

Now with the intensive use of information and communication technologies, many cities around the world are competing to become a global city. Istanbul is enumerated within the first 50 cities in the globalization process, other than the triad of New York, London, and Tokyo. This chapter explores urban space transformation of Maslak, the contemporary central business district of Istanbul, with respect to information and communication technologies, by using deconcentration and economic restructuring approaches of urban theory. Compared to other global cities, Istanbul has distinctive characteristics, since it has been passing through a unique transformation process. More specifically, its economic, political, and social characteristics distinguish Istanbul from other cities within the same category (Gamma) of world cities. This study has revealed that transformations in Istanbul were not primarily driven by information and communication technologies. In contrast information and communication technology's role in the transformation of the Istanbul central business district is only a contributing factor.

9th International Space Syntax Symposium, SSS 2013; Sejong UniversitySeoul; South Korea; 31 October 2013 through 3 November 2013 ; Historical public spaces are always seen as the shop windows of cities by local authorities. Therefore there have been continuous discussions on public spaces' use, display, power, and control in every city. Konak Square, first public square of Izmir, was constructed consciously as an administrative centre by the government. The square has gone through different processes since 19th century. This paper tries to examine these cyclical transformations of Konak Square through morphological analysis. It focuses on Konak Square and its vicinity through the three available maps of 1941, 1989, and 2013. Subsequently it examines the two future proposals of the square both by looking at the syntactic analysis of pedestrian models and recent discussions on the square. It uses axial analysis, in situ observations, and archival research. Axial analysis coincides to reveal how the square's accessibility has shifted within the city but also compares it with the other important squares of Izmir In situ observations support the axial analysis but also signify the different daily practises and the appropriation of hard and soft spaces in the square. This study revealed that in order to judge the future proposals of a public space, we have to understand first how the space was being used and changed, most importantly the current uses and practices. Although the global integration values of the square decreased each period, locally the square became more integrated both physically and socially. Consequently, the two proposals pose a threat in the pedestrian use of the square.