Leveraging GIS for policy design: spatial analytics as a strategic tool

We examine how geographic information system (GIS) tools contribute to policy design. Most accounts suggest that they merely generate information and data that can be used to enhance policy choices, a “design of services” perspective. More recent studies, however, suggest that GIS tools can also be used as procedural policy instruments, that is, to improve decision-making by facilitating stakeholder co-design and co-production processes, or what can be referred to as the designing “for” services. The activities of 57 GIS-based policy innovation labs (PILs) are examined. Seven critical but underutilized co-production activities that contribute to the attainment of public value are identified.