The city-state Singapore is building a “forest city” where green spaces are prioritized, pedestrian walkways replace roads, vehicles travel exclusively underground, and trash collection is automated. Oslo, Norway, is borrowing methods refined in the oil industry to install water pipes without digging trenches, preserving the land and minimizing traffic problems and disruptions. Charlotte, North Carolina, worked with Microsoft to create a digital infrastructure that will assist in everything from expanding Wi-Fi access in public places to reducing traffic. 

Cities around the globe are going “smart” in increasing numbers. A smart city employs “a suite of sensors … to collect electronic data from and about people and infrastructure so as to improve efficiency and quality of life,” prioritizing energy efficiency and sustainability. Planning and managing these cities understandably requires significant data collection and analysis. Providing the tools and techniques necessary to analyze, visualize, and manage spatial data, geographic information systems (GIS) are playing a central role in urban planning and the creation of smart cities. 

GIS: The Modern City Planner’s Best Friend 

These are a few of the ways GIS is supporting efforts toward more sustainable and smart cities: 

Risk Assessment 

GIS helps in assessing and mitigating risks from natural hazards. City planners can use GIS to identify areas prone to floods, hurricanes, and earthquakes; devise evacuation plans; and implement ways to enhance disaster preparedness and promote resilience following such events. 

Scenario Planning 

City planners are using GIS to create and evaluate scenarios for urban development. They can simulate the potential impacts of different land use policies, transportation systems, and infrastructure investments on factors like traffic congestion, air quality, and access to services. This helps them identify the most sustainable and efficient development strategies. 

Spatial Analysis 

Equipped with GIS technologies, city planners can analyze spatial factors including land use, transportation networks, demographics, environmental conditions, and infrastructure. By overlaying and analyzing these layers of information, they can identify patterns, trends, and relationships that help them make informed urban planning decisions. 

Resource Management 

GIS facilitates the efficient management of natural resources in urban areas. City planners can harness GIS to monitor and assess the condition of bodies of water, parks, forests, and other green spaces, nurturing biodiversity and enhancing the quality of life for residents. 

Infrastructure Planning 

The planning and design of roads, public utilities, and transportation systems is both critical and complex. City planners can use GIS to analyze existing infrastructure networks, determine deficient areas, and optimize the location and design of new infrastructure projects to maximize efficiency and minimize environmental impact. 

Monitoring and Evaluation 

City planners can use GIS to continuously monitor and evaluate urban development projects. By tracking changes in land use, infrastructure development, and environmental quality over time, these professionals can better evaluate the effectiveness of planning interventions and adjust them when necessary. 

Community Involvement 

To include the community in the urban planning process, city planners can create interactive maps and online platforms for residents to explore proposed development plans, offer feedback, and even participate in decision-making processes. 

Plan for Broader Career Choices 

Whether you want to help plan smart cities or have another career in mind, mastering GIS and geospatial technologies can change your career for the better. Expertise in this field is becoming essential for an increasing number of professionals as the technology becomes more widely adopted. The University of Texas Permian Basin empowers you to build that acumen quickly and conveniently with our 12-credit online graduate GIS and Geospatial Certificate program.  

  • Complete just four eight-week courses to earn your certificate. 
  • Learn anytime, anywhere through our 100% online, asynchronous format. 
  • Study under the guidance of UTPB’s distinguished geosciences faculty. 

See program details including courses, requirements, and associated careers and salaries here. 

Ready to get started? Apply now.  

Sources: 
https://earth.org/top-10-smart-cities-in-the-us/?gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI_-v_6snJhAMVeKJaBR0dAQ7IEAAYBCAAEgJwQfD_BwE
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/role-geographic-information-systems-urban-planning-polaris-digitech-1z1bf
https://www.nec.co.nz/market-leadership/publications-media/which-cities-are-smart-cities-5-examples-of-smart-cities-around-the-world/
https://planning.lacity.gov/blog/why-gis-technology-important-urban-planning
https://www.esri.com/en-us/industries/urban-community-planning/overview