Urban planning decisions shape the way we live, but traditional approaches often leave citizens out of the conversation. SCIPLANT is using extended reality (XR) to change that, blending immersive visualisations with real-time data and collaborative tools that put people at the centre of city design. As part of CORTEX2, the project is building an innovative platform that empowers both professionals and the public to co-create smarter, more sustainable urban spaces.
Keep reading to discover how SCIPLANT is creating impact, and what comes next.
Q: What is SCIPLANT in one sentence?
A: SCIPLANT is an XR-powered platform revolutionising urban planning with integrated data, immersive 3D visualisations, and citizen engagement tools to create sustainable and inclusive cities.
Q: What problem are you solving? What makes your solution unique?
A: Urban planning often lacks meaningful citizen input, which leads to plans disconnected from the real needs of communities. Traditional tools are static, siloed, and inefficient when it comes to real-time collaboration.
SCIPLANT combines immersive XR technology with gamified, collaborative tools to support active citizen involvement. It empowers urban planners with real-time data, 3D environments, and multi-user features. This unique blend of technical precision and public engagement fosters fun, inclusive, and informed city design.
Q: What are SCIPLANT’s main objectives?
A:
- Engage citizens in urban planning through XR tools like virtual town halls and 3D tours.
- Promote sustainable urban growth by integrating data for eco-friendly solutions, including traffic, building permit information, zoning data, bicycle paths, public transportation routes, waste collection points, green spaces, air quality indices, energy consumption, and water and wastewater statistics.
- Bridge the technical and public domains with intuitive collaboration tools for professionals and citizens alike.
CORTEX2 support programme progress
Q: What have you achieved so far?
A: We have developed three core scenarios: Site Analysis, Virtual Tours, and Virtual Town Halls. We’ve also integrated real-time and historical data for dynamic visualisations. By leveraging CORTEX2 and Rainbow components — specifically the Rainbow Unity SDK and COVA — we’ve been able to build a robust technical foundation for our platform.
Q: How is participating in CORTEX2 supporting SCIPLANT?
A: CORTEX2 has helped us establish a strong foundation for spatial, land-based planning that’s adaptable for various future use cases. Through Rainbow’s advanced communication tools, we’ve integrated seamless multiplayer conferencing for collaborative urban planning.
The platform also allows us to deliver high-resolution XR visualisations, offering immersive 3D city visuals with unmatched clarity, enabling precise and collaborative planning experiences for multiple stakeholders.
In addition, access to technical components like 3D reconstruction and virtual assistants has accelerated our development. We’ve been able to prototype and refine key functionalities much faster.
Q: What are your next steps within the programme?
A: We plan to deepen our integrations, particularly around real-time 3D reconstruction, virtual assistants, and gesture libraries. We’ll also finalise and test our core use-case scenarios through pilot studies involving both urban planners and citizens.
Learn more about SCIPLANT and stay updated on its progress!
Want to explore more XR innovation? Browse all our supported projects on the CORTEX2 website: