Introduction to Augmented Reality in Infrastructure Planning
The climate crisis has led to a rise in flooding, prompting cities to speculate in climate-resilient infrastructure. However, communicating these solutions to residents and officials generally is a challenge. The Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council (TBRPC) has partnered with InCitu, an augmented reality (AR) startup, to present communities a clearer picture of future infrastructure developments.
What is InCitu?
InCitu is an AR platform that permits users to see infrastructure projects on a smartphone. The platform is designed to assist government agencies, real estate developers, urban planners, and designers show colleagues or community members what proposed buildings and infrastructure projects will seem like once accomplished. Users can scan a QR code with a smartphone camera at a construction site to view the life-sized AR visualization.
How Does InCitu Work?
InCitu’s smartphone-based platform turns 3D models into AR visuals, helping people see a project as it will appear in real life. Users can walk around a project and consider it from any angle they will access. The platform also supports off-site viewing, so users can view a 3D model of the project without visiting its geographical location. InCitu uses geospatial data to make a decision where an imported 3D model should appear for on-site viewing and to maintain the 3D model in the best location as a user moves around it in the true world.
Using AR to Visualize a Climate-Resilient Future
The TBRPC used InCitu to point out three AR models of latest projects during on-site visits: a house elevated on stilts to display flood-resistant construction, a bioswale showing natural stormwater management, and a living shoreline that uses natural materials to combat eroding beaches. The organization’s use of InCitu continues to be within the "marketing phase," however the reception up to now has been positive. The technology’s effectiveness convinced TBRPC to make use of InCitu for AR demonstrations at its 2025 summit in May.
The Benefits of AR in Urban Planning
The use of AR tools like InCitu can reduce "engagement fatigue" that may accompany lengthy meetings and sophisticated 2D visualizations. AR displays may also help students understand alternatives to less permeable "gray" infrastructure, like concrete. The TBRPC plans to make use of InCitu to coach students at local high schools about bioswales and other infrastructure solutions to flooding.
Conclusion
The use of AR tools like InCitu is becoming increasingly vital in urban planning. By providing a transparent and interactive visualization of infrastructure projects, AR may help communities understand and have interaction with proposed developments. As newer, younger graduates with higher knowledge of 3D modeling, AR, and other recent technologies enter the sphere, using AR tools is prone to develop into standard practice in urban planning. With over 5,000 future developments available in AR and over 250,000 residents having viewed future projects near their communities using InCitu’s AR platform, the potential for AR to shape the long run of urban planning is vast.
