How Citizens in Developing Nations can Design their Future Cities
People living in some cities in developing countries are going to be given a big say in the shape of their surroundings – via a computer game.
Block by Block is a project being run by the United Nations and facilitated through a construction-based video game called Minecraft.
The idea is that the game will be used as an urban planning tool, particularly by young people. It shows virtual renderings of various locations and users are invited to enter the game to see what’s being planned for their neighborhoods. If they don’t like what they see they can make changes.
These ‘virtual’ crowd-based modifications will then be presented to local authorities and decision makers so they can understand how citizens would like to see their locales in the future. It is hoped that this will inform and guide the planning and development processes in the real world.
The initiative, which is in support of the UN-Habitat’s Sustainable Urban Development Network, is being sponsored by Mojang, the creators of Minecraft.
Pilot Project
Currently a pilot project is running in Kibera one of Nairobi’s informal settlements. Eventually, the aim is to create many more virtual environments allowing larger volumes of people to demonstrate what they would like to be done to their areas.
The organizers hope that at the end of the three-year partnership between Mojang and UN Habitat that around 300 public spaces will have been looked at.
A website is also in development to allow interested parties to see what’s going on and to be kept up-to-date with the latest happenings.
Add your Comment
[LOGIN FIRST] if you're already a member.fields are required.