eXtended Reality for promoting people-nature relationships in cities: a scoping review

Abstract Promoting people-nature relationships is essential for the effective adoption of Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) in cities. Across scientific domains, the potential of eXtended Reality (XR) technologies as a novel tool to support and enable people-nature relationships is increasingly highlight...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Shahryar Sarabi, Timon McPhearson, Bige Tunçer, Niki Frantzeskaki
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:npj Urban Sustainability
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s42949-025-00240-w
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Abstract Promoting people-nature relationships is essential for the effective adoption of Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) in cities. Across scientific domains, the potential of eXtended Reality (XR) technologies as a novel tool to support and enable people-nature relationships is increasingly highlighted. However, the application of XR in urban NBS planning remains uncertain. Through a scoping review of the literature, we found five major application areas for employing XR in the context of people-nature relationships: perception and preference assessment, spatial planning and design, education and awareness enhancement, psychological intervention, and monitoring and maintenance. In this paper, we examine how nature’s instrumental, relational, and intrinsic values are communicated through XR and explore the potential role that XR technologies can play in promoting people-nature relationships. Furthermore, we discuss the implications of adopting XR technologies for urban NBS planning.
ISSN:2661-8001