In September 2023, the UrbanistAI team collaborated with Estonia’s Ministry of Climate to enhance the capabilities of Tallinn’s urban planning department and showcase their adoption of AI in participatory planning practices. The resulting capacity building and exploration workshop focused on identifying and developing the future of Liivalaia street – a primary artery in the city presently undergoing a redesign.

DESCRIPTION 

The core of this initiative was a specialised training session conducted for three Tallinn urban planners. This training equipped them with the skills and methodologies necessary to effectively utilise UrbanistAI tools in their work, focusing on participatory urban planning and community engagement.

Following the training, these planners organised a pilot event in Tallinn. This event invited local experts, stakeholders and developers to participate in the envisioning process for the renewal of Liivalaia Street. The workshop emphasised collaboration between different expertise and their often diverging viewpoints, using UrbanistAI tools to facilitate this dialogue and find common ground.

TAKEAWAYS

This project not only equipped Tallinn’s urban planners with innovative tools but also fostered a new culture of community involvement in urban development with GenAI. By enabling planners and residents to collaborate effectively, UrbanistAI is helping to create more inclusive, responsive, and sustainable urban environments.

• It empowered urban planners with the skills to independently conduct AI-assisted participatory design events.
• The initiative marked a step towards more inclusive, community-led urban development in Tallinn.
• A cooperation between state and municipal governments was established to join forces in the development and adoption of GenAI practices.