How AI could revolutionise Urban Planning

Active citizen participation is crucial for creating socially sustainable cities. Previous forms of participation are often time-consuming for users or require specialist knowledge. A recent study by the University of St.Gallen (HSG) has now investigated the extent to which generative AI (GenAI) can enable the population to visually represent and contribute their ideas for urban development. The aim was to find out how GenAI can be used to break down existing barriers and promote participation.

Using AI to help shape the city

Researchers Adrian Preussner, Anna Crescenza, Florian Mathis and Johannes Schöning from the School of Computer Science at HSG (SCS-HSG) conducted several studies on this topic. Using an existing tool, they investigated the extent to which test subjects could manipulate their own photos of urban spaces using AI to visualise their development ideas. This was followed by expert interviews with representatives of city administrations and local associations. Based on these findings, a co-creation system called UrbAI was prototyped and evaluated with additional participants.

AI spurs creativity, but can also lead to exclusion

The results of the study show that GenAI has the potential to spark citizens' creativity and involve them more closely in urban development. The ability to visually represent their ideas encourages people to reflect on and refine their ideas. However, challenges were also observed, particularly in formulating appropriate prompts to achieve the desired results. The experts emphasised the value of GenAI in the early stages of citizen participation, but also expressed concerns about the exclusion of older people and digital novices. The subsequent evaluation of the UrbAI prototype showed that participants appreciated the integration of GenAI into a guided process that translates their needs into ideas while promoting collaboration with other citizens.

Potential and prospects for the future

The study shows that GenAI is a promising tool for promoting citizen participation in urban development. “We do not see the use of GenAI as a goal of change, but as a tool to promote change. By helping citizens to express their ideas visually, AI-generated images have the potential to reveal spaces for ideas and expand the dialogue between different actors in urban development,” explains co-author Adrian Preussner from SCS-HSG.

According to the researchers, future research should focus on how GenAI can be integrated into existing participation processes, what challenges and limitations exist, and how potential negative effects, such as the exclusion of certain population groups, can be avoided. The results were presented in April at the leading international conference ACM CHI in Yokohama.

Image: School of Computer Science