Immersive, playful public participation
This research is based on a conceptual model of playful public participation, which can potentially lead to immersive planning. It focuses on the experiences of the citizens in the participatory process. The main goal is to design digital environments which can attract a variety of different users and to create immersive, enjoyable and attractive participatory processes.
Children and civic engagement
How can we empower children and give them a voice in their communities, and even in urban planning? We investigate methods and methodologies which can be suitable for civic engagement for children in urban planning areas. The main focus is on the use of maps, 3D visualisations and models, and games that can support playful learning about the environment. Game-based online participation
Digital games offer novel possibilities for creating participatory environments online. They can bring playfulness and enjoyment to the serious processes of urban planning decisions with public participation. With its inherent elements of collaboration, competition, reward and fun, game play adds additional motivational factors that could entice people to participate in participation processes.
Map-based online participation
Online maps and the interaction with these maps in participatory processes is often experienced as a rather complex and difficult process. We focus on the design of online interactive maps and their usability for public participation. The main goal is to create interactive maps which can be easy to use for the citizens and can successfully support participatory processes in planning.
Playful learning with digital games
Digital serious games can enable learning about the environment, planned activities and changes in the city or landscape in a playful way. We investigate game concepts with the focus on civic learning: How can digital games support learning about urban planning activities? Which digital game stories, design concepts and implementations can be used to enable playful learning about the changes planned by urban- or regional planners?
GeoGames Lab 