Urban digital twins for citizen-centric planning: A systematic review of built environment perception and public participation

Abstract

In the context of rapid urbanization, enhancing built environment perception and promoting public participation has become critical in urban planning. Urban digital twins (UDTs) have emerged as transformative tools, enabling real-time simulation, immersive visualization, and interactive engagement with complex urban systems. This systematic review examines 84 publications (2014–2024) on the application of UDTs for enhancing built-environment perception and facilitating public participation in urban planning. Results indicate a rapid increase in UDT research post-2020, particularly in North America, Europe, and Asia, led by the United States, China, and Germany. However, significant gaps remain, notably the underrepresentation of rural and peri-urban contexts, highlighting geographic and contextual biases. UDT studies primarily focus on visual and functional perception, with limited attention to auditory and risk perception dimensions. Additionally, most research concentrates on meso-scale (neighbourhood or city-level) contexts, revealing scale-specific limitations. Public participation varied widely, with academia and government predominantly driving initiatives, while direct citizen engagement remained comparatively limited. Interactive participation through immersive visualization technologies (e.g., VR, AR) effectively enhanced stakeholder involvement and perceptual understanding, yet raised equity concerns regarding accessibility and technological inclusivity. Future UDT research should prioritize expanding into diverse geographic and contextual settings, incorporating overlooked perceptual dimensions, and developing equitable, accessible technologies. Embracing hybrid participatory models and interoperable, geospatially-aware frameworks will be crucial for leveraging UDTs as comprehensive tools for citizen-centric and sustainable urban planning.

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