Facilitating Dialogue Through Generative AI in Urban Planning Workshops: An Evaluation of a Participatory Tool Integrating Physical Prompts and Visual Output
Authors
Term
4. Term
Publication year
2025
Submitted on
2025-06-11
Pages
17
Abstract
Communication barriers and differences in expertise between citizens and professionals often hinder meaningful citizen participation in urban planning. This study introduces CAPE AI, a participatory tool designed to support inclusive dialogue by integrating physical MethodKit cards with AI-generated visualisations in early-stage urban planning workshops. We created a co-creative workshop structure inspired by the Future Workshop method to support the use of the tool. Together, the tool and workshop format were evaluated through a pilot test with students experienced in participatory design and a focus group with architects from C.F. Møller. Findings show that the hybrid format fostered collective ideation and supported collaborative group dynamics. The AI-generated images effectively surfaced tacit ideas and sparked dialogue; their ambiguity encouraged reinterpretation and the co-construction of shared narratives rather than fixed outcomes. These results suggest that CAPE AI can support participatory processes aligned with the placation and partnership levels of Arnstein’s Ladder. Further research involving citizens is needed to assess its effectiveness in real-world planning contexts.
Keywords
Documents