Increasing citizen engagement in sustainable architecture using augmented reality: A pilot study

Sustainability processes aim to include citizens as it is their behaviour and use of the cities that will play a pivotal role in achieving sustainable communities. Yet, active participation of citizens can be challenging, mostly due to lack of information about the topic. Augmented Reality (AR) has been identified as a useful tool to provide information to people, yet it is unclear whether its use can contribute to achieve citizen engagement in sustainability. The present study explores whether the use of AR can increase people's understanding of sustainable architecture topics, thus increasing their interest and engagement. An experimental pilot study was designed, using a self-developed AR application (app). The AR app presented information on how different façade materials of a Sports Hall building in Oslo might impact the CO2-emissions. Two aspects were evaluated in the study: the technical aspect (related to the use of the AR tool), and the sustainability aspects (related to the users' engagement in sustainable architecture). Both aspects were evaluated via subjective assessments (i.e. how user-friendly, useful, realistic and satisfactory the app is evaluated for the technical aspects, and how users understand, get interested and engaged in sustainability aspects). In addition, possible effects of reported gender and professional background (experts vs non-experts) on the subjective evaluations were evaluated. The pilot study included 27 participants, who evaluated the AR tool using a Likert-scale to rate both the technical and the sustainability aspects. The statistical results showed that there were no significant differences between males and females or between experts and non-experts in the technical evaluation of the AR tool nor the evaluation of environmental interest. The results also showed positive correlations between the positive technical experience of the AR tool with the increment of understanding, engagement and interest of the users in sustainability. The findings show advancement in understanding the potential of the use of AR as a practical tool for increasing users' interest and engaging them into the creation of more sustainable communities. • AR was evaluated as tool to increase citizen engagement in sustainability. • A user-friendly and useful AR app seems to increase interest and engagement. • As Interested was rated higher, the level of engagement was also rated higher. • Results suggest that AR is a valid tool to inform about sustainable architecture.