E-participation and the Metaverse – insights from a Design Science Research project on immersive public participation

Low levels of public participation in local decision-making, particularly in urban planning,remain a persistent challenge. While e-participation offers new avenues for engagement,achieving broad-based and inclusive participation remains difficult, especially given the com-plexity of construction plans. This paper addresses this issue by exploring how xReality (XR)technologies can enhance e-participation in urban planning. Using a Design Science Research(DSR) approach, we derive meta-requirements and design principles for inclusive XR-based e-participation. Across three design cycles and three empirical studies, we develop and evaluatea participatory XR artifact. As cities increasingly adopt digital twins, XR emerges as a promisingtool to enhance citizens’ understanding of urban projects through intuitive, interactive visua-lizations. These representations help bridge cognitive gaps and foster greater motivation toengage. However, participation is not monolithic, as citizens differ in the degree of influencethey seek, ranging from merely being informed to actively participating in decision-making.Our design theory emphasizes support for these varying levels of participation. The studyprovides insights into developing inclusive e-participation tools and highlights key expecta-tions from both citizens and public-sector stakeholders. Ultimately, we show how XR cansupport more equitable and effective e-participation in the Metaverse.