Short “catchy” intro
TBD…
From citizen voices to green choices
A simple idea with big impact..
Often in urban development, the simplest solution is often chosen… but simple is not always best – or most sustainable –
Why nature-based solutions:
Urban areas are increasingly feeling the effects of climate change. Our cities are not designed for changes in precipitation or to rising sea levels. It is more and more often seen, that during cloud bursts, urban areas are flooded, sewers are overfilled and spill over, and the functionality of society is affected. While traditional “grey” infrastructure (like pipes and concrete basins) has long dominated the conversation about climate adaptation, cities are now turning to nature-based solutions that work with nature rather than against it. NBS both solves the overall issue of fx flooding but also brings important co-benefits to society such as improved biodiversity, recreational spaces for improved health, improved air quality, traffic safety, and more.
To further promote nature-based solutions due to their capability of both solving the flooding issue but also enhancing many other things, there is a need for simplification of the design proces, a clearer documentation of all the co-benefits and impact. but the succes of these solutions depend not only on engineers and architects – it depends on the people, who will live and be in these areas.
The challenge: designing with communities not just for them
It can be difficult to include and prioritize public input in urban planning against logistic, technical and economic arguments. As a result, the decision-making process often lacks transparency, which can lead to unsatisfaction and low acceptance of new climate adaptation projects. This is especially relevant for nature-based solutions, where the long-term social and environmental benefits are harder to quantify and communicate.
We want to change that — by involving citizens in the early design early, and translating their preferences into actionable planning tools, that easily and effectively can be used by planners. Furthermore, we aim to show people how their input shaped the final decisions, with the aim of increasing trust and visibility throughout the process.
Our solution: a digital tool for co-design
The idea is simple but effective: involve citizens in the reasoning behind and the early planning of urban development for climate adaptation — and make their input usable by planners and engineers.
How it works: (INSERT FLOW CHART HERE)
- Scenario input by experts/ planners
- Citizen engagement – firstly through physical meeting and then via digital platform, where citixens can vote and comment on different scenarios
- Sentiment analysis and GIS-compatibility: feedback is interpreted and translated into GIS-compatible layers, making it directly useable by planners
- Final feedback loop, where citizens gain insight into how their feedback has been utilized.
Why it matters/ works
This approach helps bridge the gap between participatory planning and technical implementation, between citizens and planners. It helps planners make more informed, accepted decisions, and it ensures that NBS projects reflect the needs and values of the people who will live with them — without slowing down the planning process.
When citizens can see that their voices shape their city, it builds trust, support, and better outcomes.
Implementation
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Planners define the starting point
The process begins with urban planners identifying areas where future developments or nature-based solutions (NBS) might be implemented. This information is provided for the app developers and uploaded into the application, with background information and context added for citizens to explore.
Citizen meeting
Citizens are invited to a community meeting where the proposed developments are presented. This step ensures that everyone is informed from the start and has the chance to ask questions directly.
App-based engagement: giving everyone a say
After the meeting, citizens receive access to the digital platform, where they can continue exploring the proposed solutions and provide feedback at their own pace.
- Users see a satellite map of the project site with highlighted areas of potential intervention.
- By clicking on these areas, they can read more, see what others have said, vote, and leave their own comments.
- This approach gives citizens the opportunity to reflect, engage thoughtfully, and ensures that all perspectives are heard.
Turning citizen input into actionable data
Citizen feedback is then processed and translated into sentiment layers — GIS-compatible data showing levels of support, concerns, and preferences across different areas. These layers can be directly integrated into planning tools, giving engineers and consultants a way to account for social priorities alongside technical and economic considerations.
Final feedback loop: showing the impact of participation
After planning decisions have been made, the app has a final feature: it shows citizens how their input has been used in the process. This feedback loop builds trust, transparency, and accountability, making it clear that contributions were not just collected, but genuinely influential in shaping the outcome.
Future perspectives
TBD What we don’t know about our solution what are the open ends we didn’t investigate further.