Abstract
This thesis critically examines the potential of Urban Digital Twins (UDTs) to enhance citizen participation in urban development processes, with a specific focus on Rotterdam. Through a qualitative case study of a UDT pilot project on citizen co-creation for the revitalization of Slotboomplein in Oud-Charlois, this research highlights the moderate utilization and perceived supportiveness of digital applications in the participation process. The motivations behind utilizing UDTs for citizen participation include improving decision-making, complying with forthcoming legal requirements (Omgevingswet), experimenting with UDT development, and fostering citizen involvement in shaping the city. Despite significant efforts through a combination of online and physical meetings, the UDT pilot project faced internal and external obstacles that hindered effective citizen participation. On one hand, the project lacked integration within the municipality's decision-making structure, and the communication experiences of administrative actors were limited. On the other hand, only a select few residents were able to participate digitally in the UDT pilot by creating and submitting plans for the square. Many residents did not actively participate due to distrust, limited digital skills, language barriers, and concerns about the process's credibility. The uncertainty surrounding the municipality's utilization of citizen input eventually led to skepticism among citizens regarding the process. The research findings reveal limited citizen participation and empowerment in current UDT pilots, raising crucial questions about inclusivity and transparency in decision-making for future UDT developments and implementations. Theoretically, this study demonstrates that engagement, empowerment, and emancipation are interconnected conditions that must be fulfilled to ensure citizens' ‘Right to the Smart City.’
Keywords: Urban Digital Twins, Citizen Participation, Right to the (Smart) City, Local Governance, Inclusivity
About the author
Arthur De Jaeger wrote this thesis as a master's student of Grootstedelijke Vraagstukken en Beleid Urban Sociology at Erasmus University's Rotterdam.