Stakeholder involvement app AvaLinn utilised in Tallinn

Description of the practice: 
Timeframe

2018 January - 2018 September 

Description

To encourage co-creation and offer an easy way to give feedback on different development plans, the City of Tallinn developed a mobile app for urban planning.  The AvaLinn app - AvaLinn meaning open city - was launched in January 2018 and it was piloted for the planning of the Skoone Bastion area in several idea-gatherings.  The app has been avaliable for download for iOs and Android phones/tablets. Further utilisation of the app has been planned by the municipality.  In order to develop the mobile app, workshops for stakeholders were arranged back in 2016 in order to get more detailed input on how the mobile app should work and how to attract the users for the app.  The app made it possible for the local stakeholders to express their ideas and give feedback regarding the plans made by the municipality

Objectives
  • Develop an easy method for feedback on different development plans from the citizens 
  • Give an opportunity  for the locals to co-create the urban space together with the municipality via the AvaLinn app 
Methods
  • The app includes interactive information points on the map highlight new possible solutions for  developing the public space;
  • Photos of the current situation included in the information points alongside visions for the future;
  • User engagement - possible to like or dislike, to comment and add own suggestions to the map;
  • Available for everyone on Android or iOs plaftforms. 
Outcomes

There have been two idea-gathering periods – the first for the structural plan of Skoone Bastion area (lasting one month); the second for a street that starts in the Skoone structure plan area. Users can walk around the area using the app to look at the structural plan, read informative signs, and like or dislike suggestions in the plan. They can also leave comments that are visible to all, and which other users can like or dislike. People have liked or disliked in the app over 3,700 times during these idea-gathering periods. They have submitted 235 ideas/comments. During 18 January - 5 April, the app was used 2616 times, and for the total of 276 hours.