Enhancing participatory urban design withAI-generated visualisations: A case study of Nelson, New Zealand

Abstract

Cities around the world are grappling with the challenge of the loss of vitality as a consequence of economic and social changes. Participatory design is one approach for tackling this challenge, engaging the public in developing visions for revitalisation. Imagining potential futures can be difficult for non-designers, and techniques for visualisation are an important component of participatory design. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is emerging as a tool that can bridge between participants’ views on revitalisation and the visualisation of possible futures. Through using a scenario-based approach, with scenarios informed by international revitalisation strategies, we developed visualisations of three options to be used in participant workshops. Two approaches were compared: introducing AI images before or during stakeholder engagement, highlighting trade-offs between efficiency and inclusivity. Findings indicate that AI visualisation enhances understanding, inclusivity, and ownership but may mislead if visuals are overly polished or contextually inaccurate. Overall, AI serves as a supportive tool, complementing human expertise, demonstrating potential in participatory urban planning while emphasising engagement and context-sensitive application