From Immersion to AI: Redefining Public Engagement

Explore how immersive technologies driven by Artificial Intelligence (AI) are reshaping public engagement and planning practice in case studies from Mesa and Chandler, Arizona - the state's third- and fourth- largest cities. Learn how Mesa pioneered immersive planning in its general plan by creating life-sized, mixed-reality environments that allowed residents, particularly youth and underrepresented groups, to experience and evaluate future land use scenarios. Chandler advanced the approach in its downtown and general plans with a mobile immersion lab that brought life-sized visuals and soundscapes into subareas. Chandler also deployed Townhall AI, which listened to participants, synthesized themes, and posed new questions to stimulate deeper dialogue.

Gain practical knowledge of how immersive tools, biometric tracking, and AI can make complex planning concepts accessible, overcome traditional engagement barriers, and generate actionable insights. The session highlights specific methods - Extended Reality (XR) installations, mobile immersion labs, and AI-driven facilitation - that planners can adapt in their own contexts. Presenters show how immersive engagement fosters inclusive participation, balances political pressures with data, and empowers communities to shape growth decisions, thereby demonstrating how technology can be a powerful equalizer. Leave with strategies and tools to advance equitable, resilient, and future-ready planning practices.
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