Green Kalasatama

DIALOGUE & INTERACTION

Green Kalasatama is an Augmented Reality (AR) application for residents in Helsinki’s Kalasatama area that enables residents to use their mobile devices to map local plants.

Short summary of the practice

Green Kalasatama, developed by Granlund Oy, is an innovative app featuring various AR tools, specifically designed for the inhabitants of Helsinki’s Kalasatama district. It enables users to visualize future neighbourhood projects, collaborate in park designs, and document local plant life using advanced augmented reality technology, with the overarching goal of enhancing community engagement in urban development processes. The specific mapping component of Green Kalasatama is its PlantLIFE Mapper AR feature, which empowers residents to identify and map local plant species on an online map of the neighbourhood. The map offers a dynamic view of the area’s flora.

active participation, community transformation, digital tool, green space, mapping, nature, neighbourhood, neighbourhood renewal

Goal of the practice

The Green Kalasatama app enhances resident participation in urban planning. Its PlantLIFE Mapper AR feature ties into urban ecology development, allowing the city to gather precise data on plant species and their locations—even from privately maintained areas like courtyards. Additionally, participants and those viewing the map can deepen their knowledge of local flora and better appreciate the green spaces around them.

Target group

All citizens

Number of participants: Unlimited

Age of participants: Adults and Youth, 12+

Materials

Participants are required to have:

Smartphone with a camera
Internet access

Method settings

The tool was developed in Finland and is mainly used in Finland.

Duration

Ongoing once set up.

Preparation

Mapping project initiators require substantial preparation for setting up the localized AR environment. Mapping participants don’t require much preparation other than reading the instructions of the app.

Step by step guide

The Green Kalasatama app, including its PlantLIFE Mapper AR feature, was launched in response to the B.Green project’s pilot call to advance Smart City development in Helsinki. For now, its use is confined to the Sompasaari region of the Kalasatama district; deploying it in other areas would necessitate additional programming.

To use the mapping function, participants should first install the Green Kalasatama app on their mobile devices and access its plant mapping section. They then aim their camera at the desired plant (e.g., a tree) and outline a geo-tagged region around it within the app. After identifying the plant type, the data is uploaded to the cloud, making it accessible to all app users.

Expected output

The primary objective of the Green Kalasatama’s PlantLIFE Mapper AR feature is to engage residents in recording and observing their local flora. This provides data for Helsinki’s city planners. Additionally, as residents interact with the mapping, they gain insights into their local plant life.

DOs, DONTs and ethical considerations of the method

DOs of the method:

Do use the application for personal projects

DONTs of the method:

Avoid the use of the app for malicious purposes

Change the method brings to the communities

Allows citizens to visualize future parks and green areas.

Adaptation/Application of the method

The Green Kalasatama app provides a new technological way for residents to participate in the development of their neighbourhood. It is, however, unclear how their contributions are or will be addressed in city planning.

Credit, References, and Resources

Link to the tool – https://fiksukaupunki.fi/en/projects/green-kalasatama/

Photo sources: https://fiksukaupunki.fi/en/projects/green-kalasatama/, date: 20.11.2023

Collaborative Decision-Making