See it before it’s built: How X-CITE lets citizens shape their cities before the first brick is laid
Imagine being able to see how a new building would look next to your home, understand the traffic it might bring, and suggest changes, all before construction begins. That is the promise of X-CITE. We spoke with Arnaud Verstraete about this smart city project that creates immersive 3D environments where future urban developments can be experienced, tested, and improved. In this interview, Verstraete explains why putting visualization tools in the hands of citizens leads to better decisions and stronger public support
3DxVerse: If you were to introduce X-CITE to an audience that has never heard of it before, how would you describe it in your own words?
Arnaud: X-CITE is a smart city project that develops technological solutions to help cities visualize future developments before they are implemented. The idea is to allow citizens to see how a building will look before it is built, understand what kind of traffic it might generate, and explore potential impacts such as pollution or congestion. Through a simulated 3D virtual environment, people can visualize these effects and experiment with different solutions. They can test alternatives and explore improvements before decisions are finalized. In simple terms, X-CITE creates a virtual, immersive 3D experience of future developments before they are built. For example, if your city plans to construct a new building near your home, you would be able to see how it would look, how traffic might flow to and from the area, and what environmental impacts could occur. Instead of reading lengthy documents and complex reports, you could explore the situation visually on a computer or mobile device, interact with it, and suggest alternative scenarios. X-CITE is therefore about creating a virtual 3D world where future developments can be experienced, understood, and improved before they become reality.
3DxVerse: In the ideation of different pilots, X-CITE addresses various target audiences in urban contexts. What are the core benefits of X-CITE, and who benefits most?
Arnaud: The primary beneficiaries of X-CITE are city inhabitants. Citizens gain the ability to visualize government plans in 3D, understand their potential impacts, and test alternative solutions before those plans are finalized and implemented. This represents a significant improvement because it allows citizens to participate much earlier in the decision-making process. They are not only involved sooner, but they also have a clearer understanding of what they are discussing, as they can see and interact with the proposals. Government officials also benefit. When more people contribute to the design of urban projects, decisions tend to be better informed and receive stronger public support. Ultimately, this creates a win-win situation where both citizens and authorities gain from improved communication and collaboration.
3DxVerse: With pilots in Rotterdam, Flanders, and Tampere, what has been the most surprising or valuable lesson you have learned?
Arnaud: Despite the advanced technology involved, the most important factor remains the human element. The success of these tools depends on the people who build them and the people who use them. A recent example comes from a workshop in Flanders, where students tested the X-CITE tools. They worked together, explored the scenarios, and proposed new solutions to traffic problems they identified through the platform. When these ideas were later presented to the municipal council, officials were surprised and acknowledged that they had not considered some of these solutions. As a result, the ideas were integrated into ongoing planning discussions. This demonstrates that while the technology enables powerful simulations of future scenarios, it is ultimately people who determine whether these tools succeed. Technology can help visualize and test possibilities, but human creativity and engagement shape the final outcomes.
Read more about the X-Cite project here or visit their LinkedIn