In this paper, we provide an update of recent developments and forthcoming challenges in the field of planning support systems, following earlier reviews in 2003 and 2009. The rationale for this update is the rapid development of information and communication technologies and their impact on planning support systems. After a brief retrospective assessment of past planning support system developments, the paper presents a synthesis of the experiences and views of a worldwide sample of invited planning support system experts, whose innovative contributions comprise a new Handbook of Planning Support Science. The developments documented by the experts together substantiate our impression that a fundamental transformation is taking place – a paradigm shift – wherein the field of planning support systems is maturing into a planning support science. From this perspective, it is expected that planning support systems will become indispensable instruments in the planning process in the not too distant future. The signs of this maturation are already visible in research, education and practice.

中文翻译：

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规划支持科学：发展与挑战

在本文中，继 2003 年和 2009 年的早期审查之后，我们更新了规划支持系统领域的最新发展和即将面临的挑战。 本次更新的理由是信息和通信技术的快速发展及其对规划支持的影响系统。在对过去的规划支持系统发展进行简要回顾性评估后，本文综合了全球受邀规划支持系统专家样本的经验和观点，他们的创新贡献包括新的规划支持科学手册。专家们记录的发展共同证实了我们的印象，即正在发生根本性转变——范式转变——其中规划支持系统领域正在成熟为规划支持科学。从这个角度来看，预计在不久的将来，规划支持系统将成为规划过程中不可或缺的工具。这种成熟的迹象已经在研究、教育和实践中显现出来。