The AI + Cities Lab at the School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi, is an interdisciplinary research, innovation, and knowledge platform focused on the application of Artificial Intelligence in urban planning, architecture, governance, infrastructure, climate resilience, and city management. The lab is envisioned as a future-oriented space where planners, architects, data scientists, GIS specialists, researchers, students, public agencies, companies, and startups can work together to develop intelligent solutions for complex urban challenges.

Cities today generate vast amounts of spatial, social, environmental, mobility, infrastructure, and governance-related data. The AI + Cities Lab aims to transform this data into meaningful planning intelligence through the use of AI, GeoAI, machine learning, deep learning, digital twins, remote sensing, GIS, computer vision, urban simulation, and decision-support systems. The lab focuses on creating tools, models, and methods that can help cities become more sustainable, compact, inclusive, resilient, climate-responsive, and citizen-centered.

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The core research areas of the lab include AI-based urban planning models, compact city analysis, public space analytics, smart mobility, land use prediction, urban growth modelling, climate risk assessment, digital twin development, heritage and urban regeneration, urban infrastructure evaluation, participatory planning platforms, and AI-assisted design and governance systems. The lab also explores how emerging technologies can support evidence-based planning, real-time monitoring, policy evaluation, and better decision-making for Indian and global cities.

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A major objective of the AI + Cities Lab is to bridge the gap between academic research and practical urban implementation. The lab encourages applied research projects, pilot studies, prototype development, sponsored research, policy support, consulting-based research, international collaborations, and field-based experimentation. It provides a platform for working with government departments, municipal agencies, planning institutions, development authorities, international universities, private companies, civic-tech organizations, and startups.

The lab also supports teaching, training, and capacity building in the field of AI for urban planning. It aims to involve doctoral scholars, postgraduate students, young researchers, and professionals in hands-on learning through research studios, workshops, summer schools, short courses, hackathons, data labs, and collaborative design exercises. Students and researchers associated with the lab will work on real urban datasets, AI/ML workflows, GIS platforms, urban analytics dashboards, and city-scale decision-support tools.

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The AI + Cities Lab is committed to responsible and human-centered use of Artificial Intelligence. While AI can provide powerful insights, the lab recognizes that cities are social, cultural, ecological, and political systems. Therefore, its work emphasizes ethical AI, transparency, public participation, inclusiveness, environmental responsibility, and planning values. The goal is not only to make cities technologically smart, but also more just, livable, resilient, and responsive to the needs of people.

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Through research publications, funded projects, technology demonstrations, policy briefs, international conferences, student projects, and collaborative partnerships, the AI + Cities Lab seeks to become a leading center for innovation in AI-driven urban planning. It welcomes collaboration with academic institutions, research organizations, government agencies, industry partners, startups, and civil society groups interested in shaping the next generation of intelligent and sustainable cities.

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Key Focus Areas

 

Artificial Intelligence for Urban Planning

 

Development of AI and machine learning models for land use analysis, urban growth prediction, compact city assessment, infrastructure planning, and planning decision support.

 

GeoAI and Spatial Analytics

Application of GIS, remote sensing, spatial data science, and geospatial machine learning for mapping, monitoring, and analyzing urban systems.

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Digital Twins for Cities

Creation of city-scale digital twin frameworks for simulation, scenario planning, infrastructure management, climate adaptation, and urban governance.

 

Climate Resilience and Sustainable Cities

Use of AI-based models to assess climate risks, heat vulnerability, flood impacts, carbon emissions, environmental quality, and adaptation strategies.

 

Public Space and Urban Design Analytics
Analysis of streets, parks, public spaces, walkability, accessibility, safety, and urban design quality using spatial data, computer vision, and field-based indicators.

 

Smart Mobility and Transport Planning
AI-supported studies on transit accessibility, mobility behavior, public transport infrastructure, last-mile connectivity, and station-area planning.

 

Urban Regeneration and Heritage Cities
Development of AI-assisted frameworks for historic city regeneration, adaptive reuse, conservation planning, and community-based revitalization.

 

Participatory and Citizen-Centered Planning
Exploration of digital platforms, civic technology, mobile applications, and AI-enabled public participation tools for inclusive urban governance.

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Activities of the Lab

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The AI + Cities Lab undertakes academic research, applied consulting, prototype development, workshops, training programs, student research projects, collaborative publications, conference organization, and international partnerships. It also aims to develop open and applied tools such as urban dashboards, compact city scoring systems, GIS-based decision-support platforms, AI-based planning models, and city-level analytical frameworks.

 

Collaboration Opportunities

 

The lab welcomes partnerships with universities, research institutes, government organizations, municipal bodies, development authorities, companies, startups, international agencies, and non-profit organizations. Possible collaboration formats include joint research proposals, sponsored research, pilot projects, student internships, technology testing, policy research, capacity-building programs, and international comparative urban studies.

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Vision

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The vision of the AI + Cities Lab is to create a strong bridge between urban planning knowledge and artificial intelligence technologies. By combining planning theory, design thinking, spatial analytics, and computational intelligence, the lab aims to support better decisions for future cities and contribute to a more sustainable, inclusive, and intelligent urban future.