AI for Spatial Mapping and Analysis: GeoAI Tolkit for Urban Planners

Urban planning provides a strategic framework for shaping sustainable, inclusive and well-functioning cities. As populations grow and climate, environmental and development pressures intensify, planners increasingly depend on spatial mapping and analysis to understand how land use, infrastructure, ecosystems and social dynamics interact across space and time. However, traditional methods such as manual surveys, conventional GIS tools and static mapping, often struggle to keep pace with the speed and complexity of urban transformation. 

GeoAI is emerging as a transformative tool that enhances accuracy, efficiency, predictive capacity and situational awareness in urban planning. By combining AI with geospatial data, satellite imagery, administrative records and sensor networks, GeoAI strengthens decision-making across land-use planning, housing and infrastructure management, basic service delivery, mobility, environmental monitoring, disaster risk reduction and urban governance. 

Despite its potential, integrating GeoAI presents challenges. Many cities face limited technical expertise, poor-quality or inaccessible data, gaps in digital infrastructure and governance concerns related to privacy, ethics and algorithmic bias. Without adequate capacities, planners risk missing opportunities to apply GeoAI in support of adequate housing, resilience and inclusive, sustainable urban development.  

This Publication provides foundational concepts, emerging trends, practical and global use cases, key opportunities and risks, and a step-by-step guidance for integrating GeoAI into traditional urban planning workflows. Designed for urban planners, local governments, policymakers and technical experts, it offers a clear pathway for applying AI-enhanced spatial analysis in real planning contexts. It aims to strengthen the understanding of GeoAI concepts, benefits, applications, risks and responsible-use principles.