Experience-Extending Technologies as Boundary Objects Enhancing Participation in Urban Planning in the Arctic

Technology can improve public participation in urban planning and create opportunities for local democracy. Urban areas, particularly in sensitive climates like the Arctic, require rapid adaptation to environmental changes. Experience-extending technologies (EETs) can facilitate the co-creation of nature-based solutions in urban areas. However, integrating these technologies in planning work presents social and technological challenges, such as cultural sensitivity or technological discrimination. This chapter explores the opportunities and challenges of EETs in urban planning in the Arctic context from a boundary spanning perspective. Urban planners play a crucial role in bridging the gap between different groups and fostering collaboration among stakeholders, while the technologies serve as boundary objects that can enable the public's engagement in urban planning. Research has shown a positive impact of these technologies on public participation, especially among youth; however, more research is needed to understand their potential and limitations better and to promote their use in urban planning.