2nd Baltic Urban Lab Workshop 15.6.2017
9:00 – 16:15
Brownfield regeneration site planning improved with 3D visualization and interactive public participation tools
The focus of the Baltic Urban Lab Workshop II was to showcase practical examples of how 3D models, visualization tools and other interactive participation tools can be used to support public participation especially in the context of brownfield site planning. In the workshop, the advantages, added value and challenges they bring in urban planning were discussed.
The host city Norrköping is one of the leading cities in using 3D models and visualization to involve hard to reach groups in planning. In the Baltic Urban Lab project, Norrköping is developing and exploring new technologies and methods in 3D models and visualization that will be used in urban planning much broader way than it has been done before. The aim is not only to present urban plans in better understandable format but also to support decision making internally, and also get close to political decision making process and present the whole urban planning process to the public in a new way in cooperation with developers. In the workshop Norrköping (SE) introduced their work on developing new technologies and methods in 3D visualization and showcased how these tools are being used in practice in the context of brownfield site planning.
The workshop consisted of three modules:
MODULE I — CASE STUDY NORRKÖPING
People participation and 3D visualization development and their role in brownfield regeneration & Site Visit in the Inner City
MODULE II — GENERAL SESSION
State of art, benefits and challenges of 3D solutions within city planning and brownfield development
MODULE III — DEMONSTRATION AND DISCUSSION
Demos of visualisation tools and interactive mini-workshop
Photos from the Workshop can be found here: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0Byxel8HIgvoXcGN2OEpGZ3VFZlk
Summary of the Mini-workshop
The main aim of the Mini-workshop was discuss about the benefits and challenges that 3D models and other visualization tools can bring to urban planning and especially citizen participation and cooperation between actors. The main identified benefit was the capacity to make the planning-related information easier to understand. Information in 3D format facilitates cooperation between professionals and makes it easier for them to communicate to citizens and decision-makers. It is also possible to reach new and more diverse target groups. 3D models and other visualization tools can also help to set construct-related norms and requirements to developers and constructors and thus enables higher quality projects.
One of the main challenges identified during the discussions was that the development of these kinds of models and tools requires closer collaboration between the planning department and the other departments in the city. There is also a need for new skills. Municipal organizations for example need to know about the possibilities of 3D visualization, in order to make successful public procurements of these types of services. The modellers on the other hand need to understand the connections to the planning process and what kind of interaction is asked for. It was also stated that there should be a strong support from a high level in the city organization in order to develop and use new types of digital tools to improve communication, cooperation and citizen participation in the city.
Read the whole summary of the results here: 
baltic_urban_lab_miniws_summation15062017.pdf
