Analyse the contribution of Geography to the planning and decision making process One contribution is through the publication

of research findings in professional journals and other open-literature outlets. These insights usually influence decisions indirectly. Scholarly publications tend to influence society's general "climate of understanding" about issues, and society's opinions are transmitted to decision makers through a variety of channels (Weiss, 1977). Although most geographers believe that published research is more valuable before decisions are made, it is often more visibly used in justifying decisions made on other grounds, at least in public policy making (Wilbanks and Lee, 1985). One area of contribution in geography, incidentally, has been in understanding how geographic circumstances fundamentally influence decisions made by public policy makers A second kind of contribution is through reports produced for specific users. Particular problems and questions are posedusually involving the application of available knowledge rather than advances at the frontiersand the answers are delivered on a schedule within a predetermined budget, in situations where the timing of a contribution is crucial to its impact. Most of these reports become a part of what has been called a "fugitive literature," seldom peer reviewed (though often intensely scrutinized) or cited in computer-accessible bibliographic databases, but directly impacting public and private decision makers. Although such professional work is usually associated with consulting firms and other nonacademic institutions, it is also a staple of "soft money" research centers in universities. Many leading geographers have been influential in this way, without always being identified explicitly as geographers.

A third contribution, and often the most powerful, is when geographers become a part of the decision making process, interacting on a personal, confidential basis with decision makers, drawing on a combination of formal knowledge, professional judgments, and mutual trust and effective communication. These roles are seldom reported in the published literature; in fact, the contribution often depends on maintaining confidentiality and letting others take the credit, with satisfaction derived from seeing the right kinds of policy decisions made. Many geographers, from Gilbert White and Edward Ackerman to William Garrison, John Borchert, Harold Mayer, and Brian Berry, have shaped policy in this way, but many of their accomplishments are not reported in the literature. At local and regional scales, geographers assist decision makers by providing information and analyses related to such issues as the management of hazards, management of complex urban systems, and resource allocation, often wrestling with their overlapping roles as scientists and citizens.
geography's way of looking at the world through the lenses of place, space, and scale; 2. geography's domains of synthesis :1 environmental-societal dynamics relating human action to the physical environment, environmental dynamics linking physical

systems, and human-societal dynamics linking economic, social, and political systems; and 3. spatial representation using visual, verbal, mathematical, digital, and cognitive approaches. 4. These three perspectives can be represented as dimensions of a matrix of geographic inquiry as shown in

Task 3: Explaining the contribution of geography to the planning and decision making process

These are some features of Geography:

a) Provides understanding and explanation of location, distributions, land use and other spatial patterns. b) Provides understanding and explanation of the impacts of developments and processes on people and the environment. c) Provides understanding of people -environment relationships. d) Integrates and uses skills and ideas from different specialist disciplines to provide for an understanding of the planning and decision -making processes. e) Takes a holistic approach spanning the arts and sciences.

A. Explain how each of these features can contribute/contributed (help and be of use) to the planning and decision -making process involved in your issue/context. Refer to specific evidence and information related to the Waikato Hamilton waste disposal / Hampton Downs landfill issue in your answer.

B. Evaluate the contribution of geography to the planning and decision -making processes. Make judgements about the role and value of geography to the planning and decision -making process. Ways of approaching this task include a. to consider and comment on why having a geographer involved in the P and DM process would be of value, b. discussing and weighing up the role and importance of geography in relation to the particular issu e and P and DM process that took place, in relation to the contribution of other disciplines. Refer to specific evidence and information related to the Waikato Hamilton waste disposal / Hampton Downs landfill issue in your answer.
This Planning and Decis ion-making issue involves coming to a decision about a waste disposal site. Geography contributes to this process by focussing attention on impacts on the natural and cultural environments and the interactions that exist between the two

environments. Understanding and planning land -use is something that geography studies and investigates. Developing a landfill waste disposal site at Hampton Downs would involve a major land-use change and impact of local Waikato people and the environment. The cultural process of planning and decision -making is necessary because any decision to proceed or not proceed will have impacts and implications for the natural environment and cultural environment. Geography can assist planners and decision makers in this process. Geography is a discipline that focuses on understanding location and spatial patterns. Having a location that was accessible for the disposal of waste is important. Hampton Downs provides good road access from both The Waikato and Auckland. Geography uses a holistic approach and considers interactions when investigating environmental issues and is a discipline that takes all aspects of an issue into account. Because of this geography and geographers could contribute to the understanding of this particular issu e by offering a framework for investigators to work within and using models to assist in breaking down and provide understanding of all component parts and of the natural and cultural interactions taking place.. Doing so allows the assessment of possible i mpacts to take place.

Geography can use simulation models to simulate the real life impacts of different schemes, for example a simulation model of possible toxic fumes escaping from the proposed incineration plant at Meremere could be used to help assess the impacts of an accidental toxic release. Natural factors like predominant wind speeds, wind direction, rainfall, soil types, and streams would be factored in as well as cultural factors like numbers of people likely to be affected, and where those peop le are located in relation to the site, to help assess the possible impacts if this alternative waste disposal method should be selected and something go wrong. A number of disciplines and experts have a part to play in the P and DM process. Geologists, economists, engineers and archaeologists all have a part to play in this issue of waste and possible disposal at a new landfill site . It is important to understand that geography plays an essential role in the planning and decision -making processes in this particular waste and landfill issue. This is because this issue involves both people and the environment and geographers provide an understanding of both. Choosing the best location for any landfill development is crucial if it is to be a success and be th e best option for both people and the environment. Geographers can use a holistic approach when looking at issues. Approaches can be social, economic and/or environmental. Geography uses and studies models that include interactions which is important when looking at issues you need to look at the issue from different viewpoints and how they may/may not interact. When studying the issue of how to dispose of Hamilton s future waste, geography plays an important role by being able to study it from all different angles and offer objective advice about the different options. Geography provides an overview to the P and DM process and the various options for waste

disposal and landfill development. Geographers can contribute to the P and DM process as part of a multi-disciplinary team.