Towards Perception‐Oriented Digital Participation in Urban Planning: A PRISMA‐Guided Scoping Review

Adelina Berkemeier, Holger Hoffmann and Angelika C. Bullinger
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Adelina Berkemeier: Chair for Ergonomics and Innovation, Chemnitz University of Technology, Germany
Holger Hoffmann: Chair for Ergonomics and Innovation, Chemnitz University of Technology, Germany
Angelika C. Bullinger: Chair for Ergonomics and Innovation, Chemnitz University of Technology, Germany

Urban Planning, 2026, vol. 11

Abstract: Citizen participation is increasingly supported by digital tools, yet many existing participation formats prioritise static visualisation and offer limited insight into how pedestrians perceive and evaluate dynamic traffic situations. This is particularly relevant for vehicle speed perception, which shapes perceived safety and crossing decisions. Additionally, a “participation paradox” occurs when citizens engage only after preliminary planning has been conducted, and is hence approachable for the public, but costly to change. To understand how digital participation tools might better account for such experiential components, this study presents a scoping review conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta‐Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA‐ScR; ? = 52), mapping evidence across the thematic categories of technology, urban context, and sustainability. The review identifies a methodological gap between behavioural perception research and current participatory practices. By outlining design considerations, e.g., multisensory integration and technical offsets, the scoping review provides a state of the art for perception‐oriented participation, a foundation for valid and inclusive urban design decisions. Findings indicate that while immersive technologies, such as virtual reality (VR) or 360° videos in head‐mounted displays (HMDs), offer distinct advantages for methodological safety, preventive testing, and expanded reach, they remain limited to experimental pilot stages with marginal integration into formal planning procedures. These results highlight the potential of immersive tools that bridge the gap between technical planning and human perception. However, a critical discrepancy for the use of immersive technologies is revealed: Vehicle speed is systematically underestimated in virtual environments, fostering riskier crossing decisions compared to reality.

Keywords: digital citizen participation; digital tools; immersive technologies; resource‐sensitive planning; traffic safety perception; urban planning (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:12687

DOI: 10.17645/up.12687

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