A recent article on the engaging cities blog talks about how online data visualization tools are being used to literally give planners and residents a glimpse into different possible futures:

Urban Interactive Studio, in conjunction with PlaceWays and RKG Associates, developed an online tool under the auspices of the New Hampshire Office of Energy and Planning. This tool, Cost of Sprawl, was specifically designed to incorporate existing land use information, infrastructure, and financial attributes with sprawl-related conditions in order to assess the future impact of development in any of New Hampshire’s 239 municipalities.

You can read more here.