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...

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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
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author Shahryar Sarabi
Timon McPhearson
Bige Tunçer
Niki Frantzeskaki
author_facet Shahryar Sarabi
Timon McPhearson
Bige Tunçer
Niki Frantzeskaki
author_sort Shahryar Sarabi
collection DOAJ
description 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.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2661-8001
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publishDate 2025-07-01
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series npj Urban Sustainability
spelling doaj-art-acb0e0962bf442808ee0832525ae8e5b2025-08-20T03:45:32ZengNature Portfolionpj Urban Sustainability2661-80012025-07-01511910.1038/s42949-025-00240-weXtended Reality for promoting people-nature relationships in cities: a scoping reviewShahryar Sarabi0Timon McPhearson1Bige Tunçer2Niki Frantzeskaki3Information Systems in the Built Environment (ISBE) Group, Department of Built Environment, Eindhoven University of TechnologyUrban Systems Lab, The New SchoolInformation Systems in the Built Environment (ISBE) Group, Department of Built Environment, Eindhoven University of TechnologyHuman Geography and Spatial Planning, Faculty of Geosciences, Utrecht UniversityAbstract 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.https://doi.org/10.1038/s42949-025-00240-w
spellingShingle Shahryar Sarabi
Timon McPhearson
Bige Tunçer
Niki Frantzeskaki
eXtended Reality for promoting people-nature relationships in cities: a scoping review
npj Urban Sustainability
title eXtended Reality for promoting people-nature relationships in cities: a scoping review
title_full eXtended Reality for promoting people-nature relationships in cities: a scoping review
title_fullStr eXtended Reality for promoting people-nature relationships in cities: a scoping review
title_full_unstemmed eXtended Reality for promoting people-nature relationships in cities: a scoping review
title_short eXtended Reality for promoting people-nature relationships in cities: a scoping review
title_sort extended reality for promoting people nature relationships in cities a scoping review
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s42949-025-00240-w
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AT nikifrantzeskaki extendedrealityforpromotingpeoplenaturerelationshipsincitiesascopingreview