Lasting territorial planning Opportunities given by data and tools

At the local level, understanding and handling environmental challenges requires the implementation of increasingly cross-cutting approaches ( in order to define strategies, implement projects, etc.). This must be translated into public policies through a less vertical and more integrated management of local authorities competencies. Within this context, there is a growing need for data of different natures in order to support public authorities and their stakeholders in decision-making, in urban transformation projects for instance. In addition, ICT offers expanding possibilities and new opportunities are emerging within available data and new means for processing and using this data in order to create knowledge through tools. This paper is based on the analysis of the technological and informational environment surrounding data and territorial monitoring, modelling and forecasting tools. It seeks to examine the paradox between the identified need to support public decision-making and the scarce development of suitable solutions to optimally satisfy this need. The study centres on the data life cycle and analyses the challenges to optimize territorial data exploitation and improve governance, thus providing some clues to address the inadequacy.