Urban Living Lab Enhanced by a Mobile Application as a New Way to Educate Towards Green and Inclusive Cities

Abstract

Amidst rapid technological advancements and escalating environmental crises, there is a pressing need for innovative educational approaches addressing these challenges. This study introduces the Urban Living Lab (ULL) concept as an educational environment to engage households in sustainable food production enhanced by a mobile application. Leveraging a learning-by-doing approach and new technologies, the study focuses on the "SmartFood” project, which aims to reduce the environmental footprint by promoting self-produced food and fostering pro- environmental behaviors in urban communities. The research employs co-design workshops with future ULL participants to understand their needs and expectations. Utilizing thematic analysis, the study identifies both enablers and barriers to the project's implementation. The SmartFood mobile app emerged as a pivotal tool, providing users with valuable information on plant growth conditions and facilitating communication among participants. The study reveals that ULL enhanced by mobile application can serve as effective platform for educating households on sustainability. It also highlights the need for more frequent and detailed educational sessions to maximize the sustainability impacts. Overall, the study contributes to the limited body of research on ULLs as educational environments beyond higher education and offers practical insights for the co-design of sustainable urban food systems.