CUSTOMER SPEAK
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) play a vital role in modern city planning by providing powerful tools to collect, analyze, and visualize spatial data. Through GIS, planners can map and study various aspects of urban areas such as land use, transportation networks, population density, and environmental features. This spatial analysis helps in making informed decisions about where to build new infrastructure, how to manage resources efficiently, and how to plan for sustainable urban growth.
GIS also supports disaster management by identifying flood-prone or earthquake-sensitive zones, allowing for better risk assessment and mitigation strategies. Moreover, it enables planners to simulate different development scenarios, evaluate their impacts, and communicate plans effectively through visual maps and models.
Through an interaction with Mr. Durganand Minz, Dy. Director/ GIS In-Charge, Delhi Development Authority (DDA), we explore how GIS enhances the accuracy, efficiency, and transparency of city planning, leading to smarter, more sustainable, and well-organized urban development.
Earlier, we used to work with paper maps, but now, with the help of technologies like ArcGIS, a lot of things can be done in city planning. Earlier, the master plans were drafted manually, but we are now using software. When you have to plan a city, you have to think about so many aspects, like population, land cover, transportation, housing, public spaces, etc. While planning a city, you have to forecast how your city will be in the coming 25 years. Technology can help us forecast things in the right way and plan accordingly.
Nowadays, the Government of India has mandated the use of spatial analysis in the development of city plans. In most development authorities, municipal corporations, and urban organizations, the role of planners has been highly effective. If we do not educate our planners in digital spatial planning tools like ArcGIS Enterprise or various modules of ArcGIS, we will not be able to effectively deliver the city or any locality.
When I joined DDA in 2007, I took on the challenge of handling the city development aspect using ArcGIS. Moving on from ArcGIS Desktop to Indo ArcGIS, we are now using ArcGIS Enterprise for the whole organization. Using ArcGIS, we believe that we will be able to deliver more positive outcomes in the future.
AI plays a major role in making decisions from the right perspectives. It offers numerous tools that can be utilized for city planning. AI can predict where and when floods are likely to happen. This helps city planners take action early, such as improving drainage systems or avoiding construction in high-risk areas. On the land use side, AI can look at population trends, transportation networks, and environmental factors to suggest the best ways to use the available space. It can help determine where to build housing, parks, or roads while ensuring the city grows sustainably. AI gives planners powerful insights so cities can be safer, more efficient, and better prepared for future challenges.
The integration of GIS and AI transforms city planning and drives sustainable urban development. By combining GIS’s spatial data analysis capabilities with AI’s predictive and decision-making power, planners can better understand complex urban systems and make more informed, data driven choices. Together, GIS and AI enable cities to plan more intelligently, minimize environmental impact, and create resilient, sustainable communities that balance development with ecological preservation.
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