Citizen science step by step

Citizen Science Step by Step is a research initiative led by the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC), with the support of the Barcelona City Council. The project investigates pedestrian mobility dynamics within Barcelona’s traffic-calmed areas—such as Superblocks and green axes—to understand how these internationally recognized urban transformations are actually experienced by those who use them daily.

While Barcelona has become a global benchmark for revitalizing public space, there remains a disconnect between institutional design and everyday usage. This project addresses that gap by centering the “lived city” over the “planned city,” focusing on the subjective and objective factors that influence how people navigate their neighborhoods.

Through public calls and collaboration with local neighborhood associations, the project engages a diverse group of participants, including residents, local workers, students, and frequent visitors. The research follows a mixed-methods citizen science approach, combining qualitative and quantitative data:

• Mobile Tracking: Participants walk predetermined routes through traffic-calmed areas equipped with GPS devices to record real-time spatial data.
• Evaluative Surveys: Post-walk surveys capture the motivations behind route choices and personal perceptions of the urban environment.
• Collective Reflection: Group discussions serve to cross-reference individual data with shared neighborhood experiences.

After successful editions in the neighborhoods of Poblenou, Sant Antoni, Sants, and Sant Andreu, the project is now evolving into a broader initiative: the Observatory of Citizen Science in Motion.

This Observatory provides architects and urban planners with empirical, experience-based data and nuances of daily life that often remain invisible to traditional planning tools. By integrating citizen science into urban governance, the project ensures that future transformations are grounded in the real-world needs and navigation strategies of the city’s inhabitants.