Abstract
Introduction: A growing challenge in city life is how to synthesize sustainability, public health, and citizen engagement. Traditional urban management methods frequently fail to activate residents to participate in initiatives that enhance environmental quality and well-being. Digital tools and gamification approaches have become valuable resources for encouraging behavior change and fostering civic engagement. This study aimed to improve pro-social behavior, practical civic knowledge, and participation in local environment- and health-related activities by designing and testing a gamified mobile application.
Methods: “Tabriz-Senin,” a simple, quiz-first Android game, was created and tested to increase civic awareness and pro-social behavior in Tabriz-Iran. The application was positioned as a portable digital health instrument integrated into municipal services since many of the quiz topics focused on urban environmental and health-related activities, including waste sorting, safe transportation, and emergency preparedness. The Unity prototype included district-level leaderboards, badges, streak bonuses, and timed multiple-choice tests across three domains.
Results: In a controlled environment, twenty participants used their own phones. Telemetry revealed short, consistent use (median session ≈3.5 minutes;>85% completion; most items under 20–30 seconds). SEQ indicated high ease of use (median: 6.0), and all UEQ-S subscales were above neutral. Clearer badge progress and quicker corrective solutions were given priority in the feedback. The results confirmed viability, and a neighborhood-scale field test and improved feedback/reward transparency were the next steps.
Conclusion: This approach could support healthier urban environments and safer citizen behaviors, linking civic participation to population health and environmental stewardship.