E-participation for the development of urban regeneration projects and processes. Explorations and research-action practices in Friuli Venezia Giulia Region (Italy)

When participation is part of the regeneration processes of public spaces or urban commons, tendencies are, on the one side, the activation of punctual top-down processes by the public actor and, on the other side, the emergence of spontaneous practices by communities, often far from regulation. Both approaches do not always lead to significant results unless there are specific conditions. In this context, the research investigated the opportunities that ICTs have for enhancing various actions, including in terms of open government, trying to measure their effectiveness regarding the target audience widening, communities’ consolidation, and the impact of results. The case-study action-research in Friuli Venezia Giulia region has allowed to investigate in depth the existence of elements that are favourable, but also of resistance, to a new way of planning that also includes ICT. The results of the research aim to define a set of priorities to enable an adequate development of e-participation.