Anna Gayete

AR
BANIZE | Collaborative City Planning Professor | DR. Alissandrakis
4ME306-VT23 Department of Computer Science and Media Technology
Anna Gayete
AR
BANIZE | Collaborative City Planning
4ME306-VT23

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Introduction
1.1 Contextualization | Defining the problem
1.2 Motivation behind the project
1.3 Social contribution
1.4 Cross media relevance

2. Approach and methodology

3. Empathize
3.1 Understanding the user and finding the target
3.2 Personas

4. Defining the project idea

4.1 Project overview
4.2 User joruney map
4.3 Final user flow

5. Testing and Evaluation

5.1 First round | AR - Filter
5.2 Evaluation and improvement implementations
5.3 Last round | Poster initiative
5.4 Final analysis including any necessary improvements

6. Results

7. Conclusion

8. References

9. Appendix
Anna Gayete
AR
BANIZE | Collaborative City Planning
4ME306-VT23

1. INTRODUCTION

The following pages explain the development of a cross-media project based on an

application with augmented reality elements, created for city transformation with the
objective of involving neighbors in the collaborative urban planning process. The purpose
of the application is to make the urban planning process understandable and entertaining,
involve citizens in decision making and develop solutions to urban challenges.

1.1 Contextualization | Defining the problem

Barcelona has undergone significant urban development in recent years, which has
altered the city's appearance. The called “super illes”, a large block of an enclosed building
converted into a pedestrian and cyclist area, is what characterizes this new city plan. These
new urban designs are intended to improve air quality, reduce urban noise, and encourage
a healthier, more sustainable way of life.

Figure 1 | Montage with images of the Rocafort street now and when it will be a green axis / BARCELONA CITY COUNCIL

Many people, however, are dissatisfied with the super illes and new urban planning in
general. Some argue that the city has become a traffic hazard, making it difficult to reach
residential areas. Some argue that a lack of citizen participation in urban space design has
resulted in both attractive and dysfunctional cities.
Anna Gayete
AR
BANIZE | Collaborative City Planning
4ME306-VT23

Furthermore, in recent years, some areas of Barcelona have become more gentrified,
resulting in higher housing prices and the eviction of some residents. Many people believe
that economic and tourism interests drive urban development rather than the needs and
desires of local residents.

In short, there is a widespread perception that cities are changing too quickly and that
citizen involvement in shaping urban spaces is insufficient. This has increased discontent
among some neighbors, and the issue of urban development is currently a hotly debated
topic in Barcelona.

1.2 Motivation

Large corporations, institutions, and organizations frequently make decisions that affect our
daily lives without giving us much control. That is why it is critical for us designers to adopt a
skeptical stance when speculating on possible futures in order to anticipate and contribute to
their creation. We can generate fictional realities that appear real to the public by using
interaction tools and augmented environments, allowing us to push the boundaries of creation
and immerse ourselves in fields other than design or technology. Only in this way will we be
able to create truly disruptive and transgressive innovation, and thus anticipate the futures in
which we wish to participate.
Anna Gayete
AR
BANIZE | Collaborative City Planning
4ME306-VT23

In this case, I have seen how my community is not very content with the changes that the city
council are implementing, and even though I am not willing to give my perspective in the
matter I decided to intervene and bring a small proposal. With this project I aimed to bring my
skills into a tool that might – if not be fully functional – make citizens feel understood and
proactive in the collaboration of the city urban planning and for the city council to reflect on
new nontraditional ways of involving citizens.

Figure 2 Locals meeting with the teams of the Comunitàriament project – a project to dialogue between citizens and the City Council
to suggest -Example of a traditional way for involving citizens 2022 | Barcelona City Hall

I believe that working with augmented reality to involve citizens in the design of urban spaces
is essential today, as this technology offers in a simple easy way the possibility of improving
citizen participation and fostering creativity and innovation in urban planning.

Moreover, through this technology we not only provide decision-making on the design of
public spaces, but we also allow the community's opinion and ideas to be considered in the
construction of the city.
Anna Gayete
AR
BANIZE | Collaborative City Planning
4ME306-VT23

1.3 Social contribuition

This initiative has the potential to benefit society by building more inclusive, accessible, and
sustainable environments, as well as increasing collaboration in city planning and
management between people and local governments.

My intention is to show how basic approaches may be utilized to establish democratizing

dynamics that incorporate user engagement in decisions that impact us all. The project may
be tiny in scale - after all, it is a functioning prototype in testing phases - but I hope it will inspire
new concepts or maybe a bigger scale continuation of the same.

The use of augmented reality to engage residents in the design of urban spaces is an
important issue that should be investigated in order to improve city inhabitants' quality of life
and stimulate active community engagement in the creation of local urban settings. After all,
changing the functionality and giving it a more specialized and social purpose has been as
simple as utilizing a filter design tool in AR.

1.4 Cross-media Relevance

The growing urbanization of Barcelona has raised the necessity for citizen engagement in the
urban planning process. Creating a crossmedia AR app that allows individuals to engage in the
urban design of their city is an innovative approach that successfully leverages many media
platforms to encourage community participation in the planning process.

Crossmedia is the use of several platforms and media to deliver a story, message, or
experience - Bolton & Holsinger, 2013. Because it integrates the real and digital worlds by
superimposing digital information on the physical environment, the deployment of an AR app
in the context of our research might be regarded a crossmedia strategy. Via the app, citizens
may see and contribute their thoughts to urban design.

To give users with an immersive and dynamic experience, the app includes gamification, social
networking, and user-generated content. Users are encouraged to interact with the app,
share their experiences and ideas, and actively participate in the urban planning process via
this manner.
Anna Gayete
AR
BANIZE | Collaborative City Planning
4ME306-VT23

The application of augmented reality in urban design is not a novel idea; numerous towns have
previously utilized augmented reality technologies to help in urban planning and design. The
addition of citizen involvement via the AR app allows the public to play a more active role in the
process.

This creative approach highlights the usage of several media to give consumers with
meaningful and memorable experiences.
Anna Gayete
AR
BANIZE | Collaborative City Planning
4ME306-VT23

2 Approach and methodology

The approach of this crossmedia project is based on the design thinking cyclical
methodology. This means that its strategy is based on iterative process of evaluate, design,
implement and re-evaluate. This methodology involves continuous evaluations throughout
the design process -in this case, due the durability and feasibility of the project I reached at
least two evaluations - to ensure that the final product or service is effective, efficient and
satisfactory to users.

MERGING DESIGN THINKING PROCESS & ACTION RESERACH

Figure 3 | Action Research: Diagram of the principles and practice.

Figure 4 | ZURB, Design Thinking Model based on five-step process.

Anna Gayete
AR
BANIZE | Collaborative City Planning
4ME306-VT23

This project is inspired by a conglomerate of creative activism, which focuses on the use of
creativity and technology to address social and political problems. This approach considers
the role that design can play in creating innovative and disruptive solutions.

As mentioned before, I strive to create critical projects, thus I tried to based this one on
hacktivism, which is the use of technology and creativity to challenge and subvert the
established system. In this project, this inspiration is reflected in the exploration of new forms
of citizen participation in the design of urban spaces, using technology such as social media
filters to empower citizens and challenge established power.

In short, this crossmedia project is based on a cyclical design methodology that focuses on
continuous evaluation, as well as drawing inspiration from creative activism and hacktivism. By
bringing these approaches together, the project seeks to explore new forms of citizen
participation in urban design and create innovative and disruptive solutions to address social
and political problems.
Anna Gayete
AR
BANIZE | Collaborative City Planning
4ME306-VT23

3 Empathize

3.1 Understanding the users and target

During the empathy phase, I conducted interviews and surveys with individuals to learn about
their thoughts and experiences with urban planning in the city. This aided in identifying the
people' pain points and issues in the city's urban planning and design procedures.

Figure 5 | Guide for the interview.

Throughout the interviews, the emphasis was on learning about their perspectives on urban
planning and how they could enhance the city. In addition, Google Polls was used to conduct
online polls to get information on what individuals believe is lacking in the city's urban planning.
Anna Gayete
AR
BANIZE | Collaborative City Planning
4ME306-VT23

Figure 6 | Summary of the interviews and polls

The survey and interview findings were utilized to uncover trends and recurrent themes that
were used to guide the design of the augmented reality application and guarantee that the
true requirements of residents were met. I was able to identify components that residents
desired to see in the streets, such as greener places, more public seating areas, and improved
lighting, etc.
Anna Gayete
AR
BANIZE | Collaborative City Planning
4ME306-VT23

3.2 Personas
Once it was done, I continued to the target phase, where I determined the exact group of
residents that the app would target, based on the insights obtained during the empathize
phase. Basically, I analyzed the data from interviews and surveys and identifying
commonalities.

After that, I created different personas based on the data gathered during the empathize and
target stages. By developing a comprehensive grasp of the consumers' wants and
preferences, these personas aided in the design process. Age, employment, hobbies, and
preferences relating to the urban planning and design process were all incorporated in the
personalities.

Figure 7 | User persona 1 - Carmen

Anna Gayete
AR
BANIZE | Collaborative City Planning
4ME306-VT23

Figure 8 | User persona 2 - Joan

Figure 9 | User persona 3 - Aisha

Anna Gayete
AR
BANIZE | Collaborative City Planning
4ME306-VT23

4 Defining the idea

4.1 Project overview

ASSUMPTION
The project starts with the assumption that citizens are
willing to actively participate in the urban planning
process by submitting their own ideas and suggestions
for public space design.

The second assumption is that by providing a cross media

experience that allows citizens to visualize and
share their proposed changes, they will feel
empowered and engaged in the process of
shaping their city.

THE CHALLENGE
The project's challenge is to break free from the traditional top-down approach to urban
planning and engage with citizens in a meaningful way.

In Barcelona, an undergoing rapid urban change, involving citizens in the design process is
essential to ensure that public spaces are designed to meet their needs and desires.
Especially now that the city is going through big changes in the urban distribution.

Therefore, the challenge is to design an application that is simple to use and accessible to all
citizens, as well as to ensure that their suggestions are heard and incorporated into the final
designs.
Anna Gayete
AR
BANIZE | Collaborative City Planning
4ME306-VT23

MAIN GOAL
The primary goal of this project is to democratize urban planning by giving users with a tool for
visualizing and proposing modifications to public places. Citizens may quickly put and see
their proposed improvements and share them with others by utilizing an augmented reality
filter. The objective is to empower individuals by making them feel like active participants in
the design process, resulting in friendlier and more pleasurable public areas in Barcelona.

4.2 User Journey Map

User journey maps are a useful tool for understanding the experience and perspective of the
users in the design process. By creating user journey maps for each of the personas involved in
the project, it allows the design team to better empathize with their needs, desires, and pain
points.

In the case of this project, journey maps can help visualize the entire process that a user might
go through when using the app. This can include their initial discovery of the app, the steps
they take to use it, their interactions with the app, and their feedback and response to the
app's functionality.

CARMEN
Anna Gayete
AR
BANIZE | Collaborative City Planning
4ME306-VT23

JOAN

AISHA
Anna Gayete
AR
BANIZE | Collaborative City Planning
4ME306-VT23

4.3 Final user flow

I had a clear idea of the user wants and pain areas after conducting interviews and polls with
potential consumers and reviewing the data acquired. I then drew graphics to depict the user
experience and app functionalities. Based on this knowledge, I was able to develop a final
process that effectively addressed the users' goals and problem areas.

The final process is the outcome of a user-centered design approach in which I prioritized the
requirements and wishes of the user. I was able to verify that the app's features corresponded
with the user's expectations and were easy to use by combining feedback and insights
obtained through interviews and surveys.

Figure 13 | App workflow

The final process incorporates the app's four key elements, which are intended to make it
simple for users to participate to urban planning. Users may utilize the camera capability to
arrange virtual furniture and other objects in real space and capture the ideas. The upload tool
allows users to share their thoughts with others, and the real-time map feature displays all the
user recommendations.
Anna Gayete
AR
BANIZE | Collaborative City Planning
4ME306-VT23

Furthermore, the legend function explains the significance behind each virtual piece, allowing
users to better comprehend the purpose of each proposal. Ultimately, the app's final
workflow is intended to shorten the user's trip and make participating to urban planning as
easy and user-friendly as feasible.

SUMMARY

1. Open the app and select the Place & Capture feature.

2. Point the camera at the location where you want to suggest an improvement, and
use the AR filter to place the furniture or element you want to suggest (e.g. a bench
or a tree).

3. Capture the image of your suggestion.

4. Back to home, select “Share your urban suggestions” and upload your suggestion
to the app, and choose whether to also share it on social media.

5. View the real-time map to see other people's suggestions and where they're
located.

6. Use the legend to understand the meaning behind different AR elements, such as a
ball for more playgrounds or a chair for more seating areas.
Anna Gayete
AR
BANIZE | Collaborative City Planning
4ME306-VT23

5 Testing and Evaluation

5.1 First round - AR filter

For the first round, I conducted a usability test with six locals of varying ages: two teenagers
(aged 12 to 25), two young adults (aged 25 to 40), and six adults (aged 40 and up).

During the first round of user testing, I gathered a diverse group of participants to try out the
filter and give us their feedback. I asked them to perform a variety of tasks:

1.- Find the filter between other snap filters

2.- Place x elements of furniture (since it's a carousel they were ask to move
around the carousel the fin more elements)

3.- Place different types of furniture on the streets

4.- Take a picture or record your proposal

5.- Share it on social media

1. First try out before testing it with people

Anna Gayete
AR
BANIZE | Collaborative City Planning
4ME306-VT23

2. Some streets examples

Anna Gayete
AR
BANIZE | Collaborative City Planning
4ME306-VT23

I was also watching their interactions with the app and asking them for detailed feedback on
the interface and overall experience.

The output was that users liked the filter and found it simple to use and understand. They
valued the opportunity to contribute to urban planning and share their thoughts with others.
However, there were a few things that could be better, such as clearer instructions and more
variety in the available furniture options.

5.2 Evaluation and implementations

Based on the feedback I received, I did several improvements. First, I decided to create a
prototype for an app, this way we give more context and it’s just not a random filter. The app
intends to provide a better experience and clearer goal for the user.

A prototype of the app was constructed to provide additional information and a clearer aim
for the user. This also guarantees that the software is more than simply a random filter, and that
the experience is more sophisticated.

Users may now post images to a shared place in addition to sharing them on social media. This
makes it easier to find other users' contributions and fosters a more collaborative
atmosphere.

The filter options were streamlined, and items were classified into certain groupings, such as
public furniture and public services, to make the app more intuitive and user-friendly. Users
also recommended other components to put in the program, such as vegetable gardens,
which were not previously explored.

Lastly, the app has a geolocalized capability that allows users to look at the map and see
where other users have put certain objects. This provides the user with a more dynamic and
engaging experience.
Anna Gayete
AR
BANIZE | Collaborative City Planning
4ME306-VT23

Figure 14| Screens from the designed app

Anna Gayete
AR
BANIZE | Collaborative City Planning
4ME306-VT23

5.3 Last round – Poster initiative

After creating a Figma prototype for the social media app that was linked to an augmented
reality snap filter and a Google Drive folder, I decided to run a user test to get feedback on the
app's functionality and user experience. I wanted to test the app in a more open environment,
so I distributed posters in 2 site-specific areas throughout Barcelona, inviting people to
interact with the prototype.

The posters included a QR code that directed users to a prototype of the app, which they
could access by scanning the code with their smartphone. After accessing the prototype,
users could use the app's augmented reality filter to add missing elements to the streets of
Barcelona, such as furniture or other objects. They could then anonymously upload their ideas
and photos to a Google Drive folder.

After someone interacted with the app, I would introduce myself and explain the app's
context. I would then ask them a series of questions about their experience with the app, such
as whether they understood everything, how they would improve it, and whether they would
use it. In addition, I requested general feedback on the app.

Figure 15 | Poster designed for people to test the app

Anna Gayete
AR
BANIZE | Collaborative City Planning
4ME306-VT23

5.4 Final analysis and improvements

The user testing went well, with many people showing an interest in the app and its purpose.
Some of the participants found the app to be user-friendly and entertaining, and they
appreciated the opportunity to contribute to urban planning. However, some candidates
expressed confusion about the app's purpose and suggested that clearer instructions would
be beneficial. They also criticized the map screen because it is not very clear, and they don’t
fully understand how will it work. However this is a limitation of mine because I can’t work in a
prototype level with an interactive functional map. Others proposed interesting new features,
such as the ability to view and interact with other users' contributions.

Figure 17 | Clearer interactions

Anna Gayete
AR
BANIZE | Collaborative City Planning
4ME306-VT23

Given my limited time, I decided to add a few more interactions and descriptions to improve
the app's clarity. Nevertheless, since the app is still in the prototype stage and has not yet
been programmed, two of the interactions may be confusing – regarding having to jump from
Figma, to Snapchat and to Google Drive -. I understand that in the end, all the features will be
contained within a single app. Due to my skill limitations, I developed this strategy as a
prototype draft to test its feasibility and determine whether it would be worthwhile to develop
it further.

Finally, user testing for the social media app with Figma and augmented reality was a valuable
experience that provided valuable feedback for the app's development. Placing posters in
site-specific areas throughout Barcelona enabled a more open user test, resulting in a
broader range of feedback from various users. Overall, the user testing highlighted the app's
potential to engage citizens in the urban planning process, as well as areas for improvement in
the app's design and functionality.
Anna Gayete
AR
BANIZE | Collaborative City Planning
4ME306-VT23

6. Results | ARBANIZE

Figure 16 | Main screens, resulting from the app

Anna Gayete
AR
BANIZE | Collaborative City Planning
4ME306-VT23

Figure 17| Final picture for the app

➔ SCAN THE QR TO TRY THE APP

Revolutionize the way you design urban

assets with our augmented reality app.
Collaborate and participate with fellow
citizens, planners, and the city council to
create a better future for your city!
Anna Gayete
AR
BANIZE | Collaborative City Planning
4ME306-VT23

7. Conclusion

Following the end of the AR collaborative city planning app's development and user testing, it
became evident that, despite its modest design and functionality, the project was effective in
eliciting input and increasing user interest. In fact, many users were taken aback by the app's
potential and believed it was a fresh concept.

To be honest, the favorable comments inspired me; if I can find additional individuals
interested in collaborating with me, I may consider continuing to build the app and developing
a final product that will promote better communication between municipal council designers
and citizens. Being positive, I believe the app has the potential to play a significant role in
allowing a more democratic and inclusive approach to urban planning by providing residents
with a platform to voice their ideas and contribute to decision-making.

One of the most essential things I learnt was the value of cooperation; I am accustomed to
working with a larger group of people rather than alone, especially on non-annual tasks. But,
having realized this, I decided to seek feedback from colleagues such as developers,
designers, and community members, allowing me to generate more ideas and perspectives
for the project. Despite the fact that I am not used to working alone on a project of this size, it
was a valuable learning experience that helped me adopt a more organic and harmonious
approach to app design.

Another essential lesson was the value of prioritization, which is especially crucial when dealing
with limited resources and information. It was necessary to prioritize the features and
capabilities that were critical to the project's success above those that were not.

I learnt the benefits of being open to new experiences as someone with little programming
knowledge for what I needed to develop. Knowing about computer languages or user
experience design, for example, aided me in producing better outcomes and successfully
completing my project.
Anna Gayete
AR
BANIZE | Collaborative City Planning
4ME306-VT23

All of the hours spent on tutorials, blogs, and experiments may give me with assistance and
new abilities for future projects. Planning and reviewing a project may be a challenging and
time-consuming process, but sticking to the project's aims and being ready to iterate and
improve finally resulted in a good end.

The next time I may consider not basing the entire assessment on a site-specific context but
rather remote if I know I will not be able to be placed where I intended to conduct the test
usability.

Another critical factor was the project's technological viability. Initially, I planned to build using
Unity, but after experimenting with Unity and the Google Maps SDK, I realized that the time and
technical knowledge necessary to construct a low-fidelity prototype were above my
capabilities. Instead, I devised a method for combining several platforms in order to generate
a draft version prototype, which taught me that a brilliant concept and a well-thought-out plan
might be more beneficial than technical knowledge alone.

Lastly, the AR collaborative city planning app project brought great insights and learnings
regarding app development and user feedback. I am delighted to have produced a
successful prototype and to have taken into account all of the essential insights I have gained
that will help me in future projects.
Anna Gayete
AR
BANIZE | Collaborative City Planning
4ME306-VT23

8. References

Bolton, E., & Holsinger, E. (2013). Cross-media storytelling: A review and research agenda.
International Journal of Advertising, 32(1), 13-30. doi: 10.2501/IJA-32-1-013-030

McNiff, J. (2013) Action Research: Principles and practice. New York: Routledge.

Wild streets - empowering people to green the urban landscape - the index project.

Available at: https://theindexproject.org/award/nominees/3330 (Accessed: Feb 7, 2023).

20M | Así serán Las Cuatro primeras Calles de la superilla Barcelona: Tendrán 31 Plazoletas

en los Cruces y el verde SE multiplicará por 12, www.20minutos.es - Últimas Noticias.

Available at: https://www.20minutos.es/noticia/4954638/0/asi-seran-las-cuatro-primeras-

calles-de-la-superilla-barcelona-tendran-31-plazoletas-en-los-cruces-y-el-verde-se-

multiplicara-por-12/ (Accessed: Feb 7, 2023).

Google arcore pocket garden (no date) BUCK. Available at:

https://buck.co/work/google-gracie-pocket-garden (Accessed: Feb 20, 2023).

Colau Desafía a foment Y empezará las obras de la Cara Superilla del Eixample en junio,

Inicio. Available at: https://metropoliabierta.elespanol.com/el-pulso-de-la-ciudad/superilla-

colau-eixample-junio_49680_102.html (Accessed: Feb 7, 2023).

Anna Gayete
AR
BANIZE | Collaborative City Planning
4ME306-VT23

Middleton, S. (2021) 3 product design processes and when to use them, Terem.

Available at: https://terem.tech/3-product-design-processes-and-when-to-use-them/

(Accessed: March 4, 2023).

Green city planning with augmented reality (2020) Fluxguide. Available at:

https://www.fluxguide.com/en/puls/projects/new-rd-project-green-city-planning-with-

augmented-reality/ (Accessed: March 4, 2023).

The problem with design thinking is that I still don't know what design thinking is (no date)

ZURB. Available at: https://zurb.com/blog/the-problem-with-design-thinking-is-that-

(Accessed: March 4, 2023).

Anna Gayete
AR
BANIZE | Collaborative City Planning
4ME306-VT23

9. Appendices

▪ APP

https://www.figma.com/proto/c5BRl3GNLL3ISQoVcHQaiV/Cross-Media-
Design?page-id=183%3A206&node-id=260-276&viewport=-
1319%2C330%2C0.12&scaling=min-zoom&starting-point-node-id=260%3A276

▪ FILTER

▪ GOOGLE DRIVE FOLDER WITH VIDEOS AND PICTURES

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1D1GeOYXqgEbuiH0R7NYXqCAh3lV5Dncl?usp=
sharing