The convergence of artificial intelligence (AI) and urban planning holds significant promise for creating more intelligent, efficient, and sustainable cities. This fusion entails the integration of cutting-edge technologies that can guide decision-making, enhance resource allocation, predict trends, engage citizens, and more. In this framework, where AI is seen as a tool for advancing various urban aspects, there has been a surge in the development of applications, software, and other technological systems tailored to support urban planning. Below, we have highlighted some global studies and technologies applied from urban morphology to community involvement.
Urban Design and Morphology
The concept of the "creature surpassing the creator" has never been closer to reality than when it comes to urban design and artificial intelligence. Recently, a team of urban planners and scientists from Tsinghua University in China developed an AI-based urban planning system capable of outperforming human urban planners in creating projects. In their study, published in the journal Nature Computational Science, the group discusses the factors used to define the ideal urban plan under the "15-minute city" concept. Researchers trained the system using previous human-designed projects and factors believed to be positive characteristics, such as including parks, bike lanes, and entertainment spaces. When testing the system in a 3x3 grid community, they found that the plans generated by the system were as good or even better than those created by experts, and all of this was done in a fraction of a second.
