Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) have become pivotal in reshaping public governance, steering it towards more democratic and inclusive decision-making processes. In this evolving landscape, an array of technology-driven platforms, applications, and tools has emerged, aiming to foster informed citizenry and facilitate crowdsourced decisions. However, challenges persist, especially when dealing with policy actions that have spatial implications, such as those concerning transport and urban systems. Existing participatory technologies often fall short in addressing the complexities of spatial interactions and fail to handle the continuous disruptions in today’s dynamic cities and territories. The SIM4PLAN web app prototype, accessible at https://sim4plan.uah.es/, seeks to bridge this gap by designing and validating a multi-user, web-based software. This innovative tool focuses on simulating and mapping the spatial impact of long-term future transport and land use scenarios. Notably, the prototype introduces a common visual language for discussion and decision-making among various stakeholders, making it adaptable to different user profiles, including citizens, urban and transport planners, and policymakers. A key feature of SIM4PLAN is its use of cadastral urban parcels as spatial units to represent urban changes. This choice enhances the comprehensibility of simulated urban land use maps for a diverse range of users. Additionally, the prototype employs foresight techniques, grounded in the design of disruptive scenarios, using a vector cellular automata simulation model. This enables users to envision future scenarios resulting from low-probability, high-impact events like demographic shifts and lifestyle changes through an intuitive graphical user interface (GUI). To validate the functionality of the prototype, three workshops were conducted with different target participants, including the general public and policymakers. The initial series engaged citizens from the Henares Corridor in Madrid, Spain, allowing them to utilize the prototype to form opinions on a real project, the ALMA industrial development. Subsequent workshops involved professional profiles such as urban planners, transport planners, and policymakers, who used the prototype to develop informed judgments on the same industrial development. The workshops revealed promising results, showcasing the potential of the SIM4PLAN prototype in integrated participatory and collaborative decision-making processes related to land use and transport projects. Participants acknowledged the prototype’s contribution to spatial visualization, raising awareness of the significance of considering disruptive futures. The prototype was perceived as a valuable tool that could enhance participants’ ability to express opinions and make decisions regarding urban and transport developments. However, certain shortcomings were identified, primarily related to transparency and comprehensiveness in simulation processes. The study concludes by recommending further refinement and expansion of the prototype, emphasizing the importance of continued engagement with users to optimize its utility and effectiveness in real-world applications. The ongoing evolution of ICTs in public governance presents exciting opportunities, and the SIM4PLAN prototype stands as a promising step towards more inclusive, informed, and democratic decision-making in the realm of urban planning and transportation.
VIR2ALL
