AI for City Planning: Benefits & Risks

AI in Urban Planning: A Double-Edged Sword

Experts suggest that using artificial intelligence in urban planning could make things more productive. However, they also say it needs to be carefully controlled and watched over by people to avoid possible problems.

New research indicates that AI could help urban planners be more productive by handling tasks automatically, like looking at data and writing reports.

Some experts are concerned that AI might cause job losses and unfair choices, so they believe there should be rules and human supervision when dealing with complicated planning matters.

There are suggestions for the government to create AI regulations that would encourage new ideas while also protecting against biases.

Artificial intelligence could be a very useful tool for planning future cities and increasing productivity, but experts warn that there might be some negative consequences.

How AI Could Help

New research has discovered that large language models could help urban planners with different tasks, such as using them as a source of local information and planning knowledge or creating reports.

Some experts have pointed out that while using this new technology could lead to increased productivity in urban planning, some jobs might be lost.

Dr. Xinyu Fu, the main author of the study and an urban planning researcher, studied how LLMs like OpenAI's ChatGPT could be applied in urban planning.

Dr. Fu found that planners spend a lot of time on administrative tasks like understanding policy documents, evaluating development, and looking at public feedback. According to Dr. Fu, AI could help with many of these tasks.

A recent project with the Hamilton City Council in New Zealand tested how a LLM could be used to review thousands of public submissions on planning proposals to create summaries. Dr. Fu noted that this task could take a person months to finish.

The AI, specifically OpenAI's GPT-4, was used to replicate the work of planners. Dr. Fu stated that it was effective in creating similar summaries and findings, costing only $US15 and a few hours.

Dr. Fu believes that AI should not replace human planners in urban planning but instead allow them to concentrate on other important parts of their jobs.

Australia's main urban planning organization has identified artificial intelligence as one of the key factors influencing changes for planners, along with climate change, population, and the political and social landscape.

The Need for Guidance

Nicole Bennetts from the Planning Institute of Australia (PIA) mentioned that the organization has taken steps to offer guidance for planners in the country. Ms. Bennetts said AI could assist planners with simple tasks that only need a yes or no answer, like development assessments. However, she emphasized the need for safeguards because planning decisions are often more complex.

The PIA created the guidance note to help planners understand the opportunities and risks associated with AI. Ms. Bennetts also noted that LLMs can be biased.

According to Ms. Bennetts, the PIA discovered that if an AI chatbot was given all the previous decisions of a local council or state government to make a future decision, it would not include the latest climate change projections.

Ms. Bennetts stated that it is easy when there are clear rules, but it becomes more difficult when there is more subjective discussion.

Experts believe that artificial intelligence has the potential to change how long planning decisions take in Australia.

Ms. Bennetts mentioned that AI is already being used in planning in Australia. For example, Victoria's Yarra Ranges Council is planning to use an AI tool for development assessments, and Queensland's Sunshine Coast Regional Council is testing AI avatar technology at City Hall to address ratepayers' questions.

Professor Toby Walsh from the University of New South Wales AI Institute believes that the adoption of AI in urban planning might lead to fewer jobs, but it doesn't have to. He described the use of AI in the study as a great use for the technology.

Professor Walsh believes that the government should take the lead in regulating AI.

The PIA reports that Australia is currently facing a shortage of planners.

Professor Walsh believes that AI tools can help improve responsiveness to the public and incorporate more input.

Professor Walsh believes the Australian public will likely favor the approach being developed in Europe over the more open approach in the US.