Emerging role of ICT in the development of knowledge-based master planned communities

With the recent trends toward knowledge-based urban development and networked society, information and communications technologies have increasingly played important roles in the daily lives of people for social interaction, learning, information, and recreation. This research is an exploratory study on how information and communications technologies have been adopted in master planned communities of South East Queensland, Australia. It examines the four roles of information and communications technologies in the master planned communities: (1) teleworking; (2) creating a sense of community; (3) promoting integrated offices and businesses; and (4) developing learning communities. More recent master planned communities in South East Queensland, such as Varsity Lakes, North Lakes, and Greater Springfield have integrated information and communications technologies for activities such as community internet portals, local business development, and for use in community learning centers and education facilities. There is a potential to attract knowledge workers in master planned communities through the inclusion of cultural amenities, information and communications technologies, and learning infrastructure. It is important that information and communications technologies, and learning infrastructure not only benefit the housing estate but also the surrounding region, thus putting a foundation for a knowledge-based urban region.