Trustworthy Digital Systems for Planning, Environmental Governance, and Decision-Making: Implications for Smart Planning and Environmental Governance

TY - CONF

T1 - Trustworthy Digital Systems for Planning, Environmental Governance, and Decision-Making: Implications for Smart Planning and Environmental Governance

AU - Forghaniallahabadi, Maryam

PY - 2026/6/30

Y1 - 2026/6/30

N2 - The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and data-driven frameworks into environmental planning and governance represents a fundamental paradigm shift in how spatial and ecological decisions are made. Digital systems are no longer auxiliary tools; they have become the foundational infrastructure of governance itself. This paper examines the necessity of trustworthy digital systems in smart planning, environmental governance, and decision-making. Analysing the relationship between the opportunities these systems offer, such as real-time monitoring and predictive analytics, and the systemic risks they introduce, including algorithmic bias and the proliferation of structural misinformation, the paper argues that the legitimacy of scaled environmental decisions depends entirely on data quality, integrity, and robust oversight. It proposes a multi-scalar framework for trustworthy smart planning that connects local sensing, regional coordination, and national policy, and it highlights the growing importance of digital integrity in the stewardship of cultural and historic environments. The central conclusion is that digital efficiency without trustworthy governance creates systemic risk and that robust digital infrastructures are therefore central to the future of evidence-based environmental decision-making.

AB - The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and data-driven frameworks into environmental planning and governance represents a fundamental paradigm shift in how spatial and ecological decisions are made. Digital systems are no longer auxiliary tools; they have become the foundational infrastructure of governance itself. This paper examines the necessity of trustworthy digital systems in smart planning, environmental governance, and decision-making. Analysing the relationship between the opportunities these systems offer, such as real-time monitoring and predictive analytics, and the systemic risks they introduce, including algorithmic bias and the proliferation of structural misinformation, the paper argues that the legitimacy of scaled environmental decisions depends entirely on data quality, integrity, and robust oversight. It proposes a multi-scalar framework for trustworthy smart planning that connects local sensing, regional coordination, and national policy, and it highlights the growing importance of digital integrity in the stewardship of cultural and historic environments. The central conclusion is that digital efficiency without trustworthy governance creates systemic risk and that robust digital infrastructures are therefore central to the future of evidence-based environmental decision-making.

KW - Trustworthy digital systems

KW - Smart planning

KW - Environmental governance

KW - Decision-making

KW - Artificial intelligence

KW - Data quality

KW - Data integrity

KW - Digital governance

KW - Environmental assessment

KW - Cultural heritage

KW - Historic environment

KW - Algorithmic accountability

KW - Multi-scalar planning

M3 - Paper

SP - 1

EP - 5

T2 - IAIA26: Misinformation, Disinformation, Communication, and Impact Assessment

Y2 - 19 May 2026 through 22 May 2026

ER -