Applications, Approaches, and Ethics of the Extended Reality in Urban Design and Planning

Urban planners can benefit from extended reality (XR) technology to better understand data, history, design, and planning options through immersive sensory experiences. Though there are many examples of XR-assisted urban planning, there is little guidance on how to use it effectively. In this review...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of the American Planning Association 2024-07, Vol.90 (3), p.551-567
Main Author: Hajrasouliha, Amir H.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Artificial intelligence
Citizen participation
city planning
Design
Digital twins
Ethics
extended reality
Generative artificial intelligence
Goal setting
Marketing
metaverse
Planners
Public participation
Reality
Research design
Research methods
Technology
urban design
Urban planning
Citations: Items that this one cites
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Urban planners can benefit from extended reality (XR) technology to better understand data, history, design, and planning options through immersive sensory experiences. Though there are many examples of XR-assisted urban planning, there is little guidance on how to use it effectively. In this review I provide a comprehensive overview of XR in urban planning by examining recent literature. I begin by defining XR concepts and other influential technologies like metaverse, digital twins, generative artificial intelligence, and blockchain. Then, I review six key planning goals for using XR, including urban design, place marketing, planning support, education, research, and planning for metaverse platforms. In addition, practical considerations are discussed, such as public participation, ethics, and technical considerations. Planners can benefit from innovative applications of XR in planning. However, rather than focusing only on the technology, planners must examine and understand the critical factors for using XR effectively and ethically. Planners who choose to use XR in their projects must stay current with technological advancements and related knowledge, skills, and values.
ISSN:0194-4363
1939-0130
DOI:10.1080/01944363.2023.2275123