Towards hyperreal planning? Surveying practical uses of digital models and simulations in Hamburg’s public administration

As urban planning increasingly integrates digital technologies, models and simulations are becoming central to urban development. However, claims about their technocratic risks or decision-making benefits often lack empirical grounding. This article examines which models and simulations Hamburg’s public administration uses for spatial decision-making and which are desired for future urban digital twin applications. Findings show that about two-thirds of current models are static representations (e.g. data layers, 3D models), while most requested models involve dynamic simulations for mobility, the environment, and urban development – indicating a shift towards dynamic representation. Sharing diverse models across departments with digital public infrastructure could yield major synergies; however, developments also come along with hyperreal tendencies.

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https://doi.org/10.1080/09654313.2025.2582582