CORP – Competence Center of Urban and Regional Planning
Abstract
The design of urban public space often involves a convergence of different actors with different priorities in
the use of available space. This becomes evident when different modes of transport are combined in the very
limited space available. At the same time, the growing and aging population strengthens demands for action
in public space design towards better accessibility and involvement of the vulnerable. Innovations in digital
design and simulation tools have shown a great demand to address these challenges as they have the potential
to facilitate mediation and improve citizen science, participative and collaborative planning processes. Joint
evaluation is supported and planners, decision makers and foremost citizens are brought together [(Yang et
al. 2019), (Sanchez-Sepulveda et al. 2019), (Buffel et al. 2012)]. In our research, we have implemented
human-computer interfaces for urban digital twins. These digital twins combine geometry and point cloud
models, simulation results, and sensor data and enable analysis of existing situations, scenario testing, as well
as prediction, on all urban scales, from buildings to cities and regions. By visualization in VR environments
such as a CAVE (Cave Automatic Virtual Environment) they provide a powerful method for informed
discussions between all stakeholders which is essential for joint decision-making. Our recent work extends
these tools to include often neglected groups, such as people with disabilities, the elderly, or children, with
the aim to empower them and to address their specific needs with respect to public spaces, while making
these needs more traceable for others. Therefore, we have implemented different modes of traffic in
simulators: Cars, bicycles, skateboards, and wheelchairs. Using one of these simulators, users can then
interactively explore virtual replicas of public spaces using a real vehicle for steering. In combination with a
tracking system, the user’s perspective in the virtual world is adjusted accordingly, enabling an impression of
riding through the replica similar as in a real environment. Users can explore the accessibility of public
spaces and detect shortcomings like high curbs or slopes. Often, these are unnoticed by pedestrians while
posing major obstacles for people in wheelchairs, with strollers or roller walkers. Hence, this simulator helps
to better understand and include the mentioned group in public participation. Moreover, the simulator was
combined with traffic simulations (Zeile et al. 2021). These, in particular when visualized along with the
digital twin, improve the depiction of the actual processes and dynamic scenarios, and allow to simulate and
compare scenarios of different design proposals. Bottlenecks such as narrow sidewalks incapable of handling
the load of pedestrians, or unclear intersections with an insufficient view can be detected as well as the use of
space in certain conditions as during rush hours or at construction sites. Experiments were carried out using
the different simulators as human-computer interfaces. Observations and questionnaires were used to analyse
the experiences of 23 test subjects. In summary, the developed simulators are intended to contribute to safer
and better accessible urban spaces for all. In this initial work, the focus lies on groups with special needs in
public spaces - for example, highly mobile young people and in contrast people with limited mobility or the
elderly. By detecting current barriers, the developed simulators make them tangible and understandable for
the wider public but also for planners, designers, and decision-makers