From Spatial to Platial Decision Support: A Methodological Digital Framework for Urban Experience

Nils Karges, Dominik Kremer, Peter Zeile, Lisa Lehnen, Richard Lemoine-Rodríguez, Ignacio Ubeda Soto, Andreas Neuner, Matthias Gamer, Jürgen Rauh, Marco Schmidt, Gunther Gust, Birgit Wallmann-Sperlich, Ariane Droin, Ninja Schulz, Carolin Biewer and Hannes Taubenböck
Additional contact information
Nils Karges: Institute of Geography and Geology, Julius‐Maximilians‐University Würzburg, Germany
Dominik Kremer: Department of Cartography and Visual Communication, Leibniz Institute for Regional Geography (IfL), Germany
Peter Zeile: Chair of Urban Housing and Development, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology KIT, Germany
Lisa Lehnen: Institute of Modern Languages, Julius‐Maximilians‐University Würzburg, Germany
Richard Lemoine-Rodríguez: Institute of Modern Languages, Julius‐Maximilians‐University Würzburg, Germany / Earth Observation Center (EOC), German Aerospace Center (DLR), Germany
Ignacio Ubeda Soto: Center for Artificial Intelligence and Data Science (CAIDAS), Julius‐Maximilians‐University Würzburg, Germany / Faculty of Management and Economics, Julius‐Maximilians‐University Würzburg, Germany
Andreas Neuner: Institute of Geography, Friedrich‐Alexander‐Universität Erlangen‐Nürnberg, Germany
Matthias Gamer: Department of Psychology I – Experimental Clinical Psychology, Julius‐Maximilians‐University Würzburg, Germany
Jürgen Rauh: Institute of Geography and Geology, Julius‐Maximilians‐University Würzburg, Germany
Marco Schmidt: Embedded Systems and Sensors for Earth Observation (ESSEO), Julius‐Maximilians‐University Würzburg, Germany
Gunther Gust: Center for Artificial Intelligence and Data Science (CAIDAS), Julius‐Maximilians‐University Würzburg, Germany / Faculty of Management and Economics, Julius‐Maximilians‐University Würzburg, Germany
Birgit Wallmann-Sperlich: Institute for Sports Science, Integrative and Experimental Exercise Science and Training, Julius‐Maximilians‐University Würzburg, Germany
Ariane Droin: Earth Observation Center (EOC), German Aerospace Center (DLR), Germany / Department of Global Urbanization and Remote Sensing, Julius‐Maximilians‐University Würzburg, Germany
Ninja Schulz: Institute of Modern Languages, Julius‐Maximilians‐University Würzburg, Germany
Carolin Biewer: Institute of Modern Languages, Julius‐Maximilians‐University Würzburg, Germany
Hannes Taubenböck: Earth Observation Center (EOC), German Aerospace Center (DLR), Germany / Department of Global Urbanization and Remote Sensing, Julius‐Maximilians‐University Würzburg, Germany

Urban Planning, 2026, vol. 11

Abstract: Urban planning increasingly seeks to account for how urban spaces are experienced and interpreted by city dwellers and visitors, yet experiential dimensions remain only weakly integrated into planning decision support. This article presents a proof‑of‑concept implementation of a platial decision support system (PDSS) that structures diverse forms of in situ, human‑generated evidence into a planning‑oriented analytical framework. The PDSS operationalises these observations through four analytical levels of increasing resolution. An environmental context layer, together with aggregated self-reported appraisals, establishes a structural baseline for identifying locations that warrant deeper investigation. Level 1 documents salient sensory cues through visual and acoustic observations, while Level 2 interprets these cues through individual and group-specific sense-making, transforming multimodal observations into shared empirical evidence of experiential conflicts, affordances, and planning-relevant priorities. A conceptual Level 3 situates this evidence within planning deliberation, where it can inform stakeholder negotiation and the implementation of planning measures. The framework is demonstrated using a case study in Würzburg, Germany. Results show that locations with comparable environmental characteristics and aggregated appraisal can nevertheless differ substantially in how they are perceived, interpreted, and prioritised by different user groups. Rather than prescribing planning solutions, the PDSS provides a transparent and scalable workflow that translates multimodal urban observations into shared empirical evidence, complementing established spatial analyses and supporting planning deliberation through structured, context-sensitive, and evidence-informed urban planning.

Keywords: decision support system; experience; interdisciplinary; methodological framework; place-person interaction (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:cog:urbpla:v11:y:2026:a:12665

DOI: 10.17645/up.12665

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