The student Idoia Landa Oregi obtained an EXCELLENT CUM LAUDE with mention INTERNATIONAL DOCTORATE
The student Idoia Landa Oregi obtained an EXCELLENT CUM LAUDE with mention INTERNATIONAL DOCTORATE
The student Idoia Landa Oregi obtained an EXCELLENT CUM LAUDE with mention INTERNATIONAL DOCTORATE
- Thesis title: The enhancement of the engagement in citizen participation processes for urban regeneration through a human-centered design approach
Court:
- Presidency: Iván Lidón López (Universidad de Zaragoza)
- Vocal: Amaia Sopelana Gato (Tecnalia)
- Vocal: Ganix Lasa Erle (Mondragon Unibertsitatea)
- Vocal: Merit Tatar (Institute of Baltic Studies)
- Secretary: Merit Tatar (Institute of Baltic Studies)
Abstract:
Urbanization has increased substantially over the past century, with projections indicating a 34% expansion in high-income countries over the next 50 years. By 2050, 68% of the global population is expected to live in urban areas, exacerbating concerns such as climate change, resource depletion, and rising energy consumption. In this context, cities have become central to implementing sustainable and inclusive development strategies. At the core of these efforts lies the concept of citizen-centered cities, which advocate for participatory urban regeneration by empowering citizens in decision-making processes. This approach emphasizes social well-being and encourages stakeholder collaboration to design cities for and with their inhabitants.
Despite the recognized value of citizen participation, its practical implementation continues to face challenges, especially concerning meaningful engagement. Without authentic involvement, participatory processes risk becoming tokenistic, which can erode public trust and democratic legitimacy. Addressing these shortcomings requires a thorough understanding of engagement mechanisms to ensure participatory frameworks are both effective and equitable. Human-Centered Design (HCD) emerges as a promising approach to enhance citizen engagement and support the development of citizen-centered cities, as it grounds participation in citizens’ real needs and aspirations. By promoting empathy, collaboration, and iterative problem-solving, HCD can strengthen engagement in urban regeneration.
This doctoral thesis explores how citizen engagement in urban regeneration can be improved through the application of HCD. It begins with a comprehensive analysis of engagement and its influencing factors, followed by the development of a model integrating HCD principles and methods to address those factors. The research adopts a participatory Action Research approach, focusing on a case study in the Santa Ana neighborhood of Ermua, currently undergoing rehabilitation. The study is structured in four iterative cycles to identify critical engagement factors, define and apply the HCD model, assess its impact, and analyze the potential for replicability. Each cycle provided opportunities to evaluate the interventions’ effectiveness and adapt strategies based on observed results and participant feedback.
The findings reveal that HCD fosters citizen engagement by creating spaces for listening and co-creation, thereby encouraging community ownership of the regeneration process. HCD’s inherent flexibility and iterative nature enable adaptation to evolving neighborhood dynamics and residents’ emerging needs. The study also identifies that citizen engagement is primarily influenced by collective interaction dynamics and process clarity. A validated survey was developed to measure engagement levels systematically. Moreover, the research highlights the role of intersectionality, as the analysis of three variables shows its impact on engagement dynamics. An exploratory application of the study in a different geographical context suggests partial replicability, although critical factor variations necessitate adapting both the HCD model and the engagement survey to maintain contextual relevance.
This doctoral thesis yields three key contributions: the characterization of citizen engagement through 36 factors categorized into three groups and nine sub-categories; a model that integrates HCD tools into participatory processes to enhance engagement; and a survey instrument for measuring citizen engagement levels.