Finding the difference : measuring spatial perception of planning phases of high-rise urban developments in virtual reality

Planning is a process in which the contents of planning is gradually refined. However, research in planning communication and perception is often conducted using contrasting scenarios, e.g. by comparing a with/without case. It is not surprising that drastic differences in planning content and representation result in significant differences in perception. Instead, and as a reflection of sequential and gradually evolving projects in planning practice, we are focusing on two planning phases with only subtle differences (2015 and 2018) for a new high-rise development district in Guangzhou. We introduce 3D gaze-tracking and spatial perception experiments to investigate how participants respond to virtual representations of the two planning phases. The results provide implications for planning and design practice and suggest more substantial roles for the general public in participatory planning processes.