Plnnís

Plnnís is a term used in speculative fiction and in studies of constructed languages to denote a form of distributed, participatory urban infrastructure. In the imagined setting, plnnís refers to a hybrid system that combines a shared governance protocol with a physical network of commons facilities and sensor-enabled services. The term originates from a constructed language spoken by the Verdic people, where plnn- means to connect and -ís functions as a nominal suffix.

A plnnís system typically includes three elements: a participatory decision-making platform that allows residents to propose and vote on projects; a shared resource ledger that tracks inputs and outputs of public goods; and an open data layer that supports transparency and interoperability with partner services. It operates under a locally bounded governance model, emphasizing mutual aid, resilience, and long-term stewardship of urban assets.

In the fictional Verdant Confederacy, the concept gained prominence in urban planning debates during the 2140s as a framework to address climate risks and social inequities. Writers and theorists discuss its potential to democratize service delivery, reduce costs, and foster community sovereignty, while critics warn of privacy risks, governance overload, and the danger of information asymmetry.

In practice, plnnís-inspired experiments appear in novels and simulations, and several municipalities within the fictional world cite it as an influence on participatory budgeting, energy sharing, and cooperative housing initiatives.

See also: distributed governance, urban informatics, participatory budgeting, cooperative networks.