Article:

For the built environment's transformation we are confronted with complexdynamics connected to economic, ecologic and demographic change(Czerkauer-Yamu et al., 2013; Yamu, 2014). In general, cities are complexsystems being a ``heterogeneous mosaic'' of a variety of cultures and functions,characterised by diverging perceptions and interests (ibid). The juxtaposedperceptions and interests in relation to ongoing spatial processes of changecreate a particularly complex situation. Thus, for planning processes we are inneed of approaches that are able to cope not only with the urban complexity butalso allow for participatory processes to empower citizens. This paper presentsthe approach of using Digital Twins in virtual reality (VR) for civic engagementin urban planning, enriched with quantitative and qualitative empirical data asone promising approach to tackle not only the complexity of cities but alsoinvolve citizens in the planning process.