IN-PERSON Barcelona Livable Cities. Section A

Abstract

Digitalisation and digital tools are pivotal to contemporary urban planning, focusing on the future of cities. In this context, participatory design processes are linked with digital mapping and intertwined with AI platforms. The present paper explores this phenomenon by examining the nexus between participation and AI in urban planning through a case study in Kaarina, a municipality near the city of Turku, Finland. The purpose of the study is to investigate the role and effects of UrbanistAI, which is an AI-driven tool designed to generate images as a base for decision-making. Furthermore, it discusses the tool’s infrastructure and contextualises its approach. The methodology includes an analysis of an interview conducted with the founders of UrbanistAI, emphasising how the tool facilitates communication in participatory settings. Particular attention is given to how residents of Kaarina used UrbanistAI to exchange ideas and preserve knowledge about their local market square. The case highlights the tool’s capacity to support participatory design processes while raising questions about the longevity and adaptability of such digital interventions. By examining the material culture and components of UrbanistAI, the paper contributes to the ongoing discourse on AI in participatory urban planning. Its significance lies in the call for a deeper exploration of tools to maintain the dynamics of participatory projects. The research underscores the importance of acquiring insight from design processes and concentrating not merely on outcomes, but also on the tools and infrastructures that shape them.