The potential benefits of citizen science for spatial planning: an exploratory analysis of 22 Belgian and Dutch cases

Citizen science is gaining attention for its innovative potential for research, policy-making, and address spatial aspects of sustainability transitions. However, spatial planners struggle to harness this potential beyond the extension of participatory processes. Approaches seek to recognize citizen...

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Published in:European planning studies Vol. 33; no. 10; pp. 1864 - 1882
Main Authors: Goosse, Tom, Lamker, Christian, Devos, Tim
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Abingdon Routledge 03.10.2025
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Subjects:
citizen initiatives
Citizen science
Citizens
collaborative research
Interfaces
Interpersonal communication
Literature reviews
Participatory planning
Planning
Policy making
Science
Self concept
Spatial analysis
Spatial aspects
sustainability
Sustainability transitions
ISSN:0965-4313, 1469-5944
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Abstract Citizen science is gaining attention for its innovative potential for research, policy-making, and address spatial aspects of sustainability transitions. However, spatial planners struggle to harness this potential beyond the extension of participatory processes. Approaches seek to recognize citizens views alongside governmental expertize in communicative processes, while citizen science is rarely conceptualized through lenses of co-production and self-organization. This paper explores the potential benefits of citizen science for spatial planning along emerging and potential interfaces. Drawing on a literature review focussed on spatial planning and citizen science, we examine existing typologies and analyse 22 citizen science cases from Flanders (Belgium) and the Netherlands that engage with spatial issues. The study identifies four types of interfaces between citizen science and spatial planning practices, highlighting diverse ways in which citizen science can inform or support participatory planning processes. It opens the potential for various societal actors to engage with a citizen science project, form collaborations and develop new role distributions within spatial planning.
AbstractList Citizen science is gaining attention for its innovative potential for research, policy-making, and address spatial aspects of sustainability transitions. However, spatial planners struggle to harness this potential beyond the extension of participatory processes. Approaches seek to recognize citizens views alongside governmental expertize in communicative processes, while citizen science is rarely conceptualized through lenses of co-production and self-organization. This paper explores the potential benefits of citizen science for spatial planning along emerging and potential interfaces. Drawing on a literature review focussed on spatial planning and citizen science, we examine existing typologies and analyse 22 citizen science cases from Flanders (Belgium) and the Netherlands that engage with spatial issues. The study identifies four types of interfaces between citizen science and spatial planning practices, highlighting diverse ways in which citizen science can inform or support participatory planning processes. It opens the potential for various societal actors to engage with a citizen science project, form collaborations and develop new role distributions within spatial planning.
Author Lamker, Christian
Devos, Tim
Goosse, Tom
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  organization: Centre for Mobility and Spatial Planning (AMRP), Ghent University
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SubjectTerms citizen initiatives
Citizen science
Citizens
collaborative research
Interfaces
Interpersonal communication
Literature reviews
Participatory planning
Planning
Policy making
Science
Self concept
Spatial analysis
Spatial aspects
sustainability
Sustainability transitions
Title The potential benefits of citizen science for spatial planning: an exploratory analysis of 22 Belgian and Dutch cases
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