Immerse Yourself! Youth and XR Master Planning

How might planners utilize immersive and eXtended Reality (XR) technologies such as Virtual and Mixed Reality (VR/MR) to foster community dialogue, particularly among youth? In this session, we look at how such technologies were utilized in multiple case studies across the US to connect youth to the planning process and their futures, promote informed decision-making, and engage with master planning in new and novel ways. As Jane Jacobs aptly pointed out, cities are embodied, so how might we utilize this emerging tech to three-dimensionalize the planning process so ideas such as transit-oriented development, climate adaptive infrastructure, or multi-use zoning are actually felt by communities versus simply conceptualized.
By adopting this approach, diverse perspectives, age groups, and abilities can virtually "test" such elements as bike lanes or pocket parks, offering insights that maps or discussions cannot provide. Moreover, VR/MR can simulate seasonal challenges not immediately felt—such as extreme weather—allowing planners to better convey adaptive strategies for diverse environments.
Through our multiple case study presentation that spans across private, municipal, and academic partners, we outline how immersive technologies engage younger generations in the process of planning and governance, driving toward a more participatory and forward-thinking connection to the future of one’s space and place.

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