Final answer:
Technology facilitates public participation in land-use planning through electronic voting systems, digital conferencing, federal support programs, and decision-support tools like GIS and GPS.
Step-by-step explanation:
Various technologies are available to assist citizens in participating in land-use planning decisions. Some of the key technologies include:
Electronic voting systems, which might allow for participation through email or online platforms, ensuring citizens can vote from any location.
Digital conferencing tools that enable citizens to attend meetings and discussions from the comfort of their own homes, thereby promoting participation from a wider demographic.
Federal support programs that make use of telecommunications and computing to offer resources and information to the public.
Decision-support tools such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Global Positioning Systems (GPS), which provide sophisticated mapping and data analysis capabilities to better understand spatial aspects of land-use planning.
These technologies not only facilitate a broader range of public participation but also enhance the quality of the decision-making process by integrating diverse stakeholder knowledge, as seen with the use of participatory GIS.