The authors analyze the complex interplay between rail infrastructure development and railway station area development in the Netherlands through the method of gaming-simulation, or serious gaming. The serious game SprintCity was developed in order to better understand and manage the dynamic interrelations between rail infrastructure and urban development of the Delta Metropolis in the Netherlands. So far, the game has been played in nine independent game sessions, with a total of around 70 stakeholders as players. The authors describe the design of the game in some detail and present the preliminary insights and results. Data before, during and after the game sessions are gathered through in-game participant questionnaires, data logging, observations and transcripts of end-of-game (debriefing) discussions between participants and the facilitator. The main conclusion is that the current prototype version of the game is supported by the stakeholder-players, significantly enhances the development and use of the underlying infrastructure-space model and generates questions for further scientific and policy research.
The authors discuss and analyze the complex interplay between rail infrastructure development and land use development of railway station areas in the Netherlands. They argue that although this interrelation has been theorized and studied in the academic literature, the underlying complex and dynamic mechanisms, and the appropriate planning and management responses, are still insufficiently understood. This is particularly relevant for local, regional and national policymakers in the various subsystems, because a lack of network understanding and interconnectedness may produce suboptimal, unsustainable spatial and rail infrastructure planning. In order to better understand and manage the dynamic interrelations between rail infrastructure and urban development in the Delta Metropolis, the serious game SprintCity was developed. The game is played with the real stakeholders (administrators, planners, politicians, interest groups, experts and consultants, etc.). In this paper, the authors describe and analyze why and how the complexity of the real world system was modeled into a serious game.
De gemeente Den Haag buigt zich al jaren over de revitalisering van de winkelstraat Stationsweg. Ze typeert de straat, die tussen het station Hollands Spoor en de binnenstad ligt, als ‘de rode loper’. Dit roept het beeld op van een aantrekkelijk route waar men plezier aan beleeft. De vraag is in hoeverre deze visie aansluit bij de alledaagse beleving van bezoekers. Diverse passanten en klanten zijn benaderd om dit te onderzoeken. Er blijkt een behoorlijke discrepantie te bestaan tussen de manier waarop zij de straat gebruiken en beleven en het idee van ‘de rode loper’. Voor veel passanten is de straat vooral een efficiënte route naar de binnenstad en zeker niet een straat waar men naar de etalages kijkend kalmpjes doorheen loopt. Voor veel klanten is de straat geen route, maar juist een bestemming waar ze onder meer hun dagelijkse boodschappen doen en vertrouwd raken met anderen. The Municipality of The Hague has been making efforts to revitalize the shopping street Stationsweg for several years. The street, located between the Hollands Spoor railway station and city centre, is characterized as ‘the red carpet’. This gives the street the image of an exclusive shopping destination. However, the question is to what extent this image matches the everyday experiences of its visitors. To determine this, several passers-by and customers were approached. There appears to be a substantial discrepancy between how they experience the street and the image of ‘the red carpet’. For many passers-by, the street is simply an efficient route to the city centre, rather than a street for window shopping or strolling. Furthermore, instead of a route, many consider the street a destination, where they do their daily shopping and meet others.
The Dutch Environmental Vision and Mobility Vision 2050 promote climate-neutral urban growth around public transport stations, envisioning them as vibrant hubs for mobility, community, and economy. However, redevelopment often increases construction, a major CO₂ contributor. Dutch practice-led projects like 'Carbon Based Urbanism', 'MooiNL - Practical guide to urban node development', and 'Paris Proof Stations' explore integrating spatial and environmental requirements through design. Design Professionals seek collaborative methods and tools to better understand how can carbon knowledge and skills be effectively integrated into station area development projects, in architecture and urban design approaches. Redeveloping mobility hubs requires multi-stakeholder negotiations involving city planners, developers, and railway managers. Designers act as facilitators of the process, enabling urban and decarbonization transitions. CARB-HUB explores how co-creation methods can help spatial design processes balance mobility, attractiveness, and carbon neutrality across multiple stakeholders. The key outputs are: 1- Serious Game for Co-Creation, which introduces an assessment method for evaluating the potential of station locations, referred to as the 4P value framework. 2-Design Toolkit for Decarbonization, featuring a set of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to guide sustainable development. 3- Research Bid for the DUT–Driving Urban Transitions Program, focusing on the 15-minute City Transition Pathway. 4- Collaborative Network dedicated to promoting a low-carbon design approach. The 4P value framework offers a comprehensive method for assessing the redevelopment potential of station areas, focusing on four key dimensions: People, which considers user experience and accessibility; Position, which examines the station's role within the broader transport network; Place-making, which looks at how well the station integrates into its surrounding urban environment; and Planet, which addresses decarbonization and climate adaptation. CARB-HUB uses real cases of Dutch stations in transition as testbeds. By translating abstract environmental goals into tangible spatial solutions, CARB-HUB enables scenario-based planning, engaging designers, policymakers, infrastructure managers, and environmental advocates.
