PlanTechNZ

AI brings significant opportunities to resource management planning by enabling the analysis of vast amounts of data in real-time.

Machine learning algorithms can process and synthesise complex data sets from various sources, such as traffic patterns, land use, demographics, and climate data.

This allows for more informed decision-making, enabling planners to better predict and respond to urban challenges, optimise resource allocation, and design more efficient and sustainable built and natural environments.

AI has the potential to improve public engagement and participation in resource management planning.

By using natural language processing and sentiment analysis, AI can help planners better understand public opinions and concerns regarding proposed developments and plans.

This enhanced understanding can lead to more inclusive and democratic decision-making processes, ensuring that planning outcomes better align with community values and needs.

Emerging technologies like IoT (Internet of Things) devices, drones, and augmented reality play a vital role in revolutionising planning.

IoT devices can collect real-time data on various urban systems, such as energy consumption, waste management, and air quality.

AI as it continues to develop will be able to work in synergy with these technologies to provide more comprehensive and data-driven solutions for resource management planning challenges.

Drones can be used for high-resolution mapping, monitoring, and surveying, while AI could process and interpret the gathered data, helping planners assess and mitigate potential risks, such as natural disasters and climate change impacts.

Augmented reality creates immersive visualisations of proposed developments, allowing planners, stakeholders, and the public to better understand the implications of design choices on the built environment. AI could enhance these visualisations by generating context-specific and data-driven design alternatives, fostering more informed decision-making processes and promoting stakeholder engagement.

One of the emerging technologies that use AI is Generative Pre-trained Transformer (GPT), a deep learning model that can generate natural language texts based on a given prompt or context.

GPT can be used for various purposes in planning and design, such as creating realistic and engaging narratives for urban visions and scenarios, generating creative and diverse design alternatives for urban spaces, and providing feedback and suggestions for improving existing plans and designs.

Some more well-known and publicly accessible GPT-powered applications include OpenAI'€™s ChatGPT, Midjourney, Claude, Poe and Microsoft'€˜s Bing AI/CoPilot.

Find out more in our Tools & Resources section.

AI and emerging technologies can foster cross-disciplinary collaboration and innovation in resource management planning.

By combining the expertise of planners, engineers, architects, and data scientists, we can develop more holistic and integrated approaches to address the complex challenges facing our urban and regional environments.

This interdisciplinary approach can lead to more effective and creative solutions.

AI-powered natural language processing has the potential to analyse oral histories, traditional knowledge, and other culturally significant information sources, enabling planners to gain deeper insights into the cultural context of their work, and to learn how to better incorporate these insights into decision-making.

AI can also facilitate more inclusive and culturally responsive engagement processes. By leveraging AI tools, planners could develop effective Māori and Mana Whenua communication strategies, fostering stronger relationships and promoting meaningful participation.

Such opportunities raise ethical issues such as around Māori data sovereignty. It will be crucial to ensure that any use of AI for cultural assessments is guided by a genuine commitment to collaboration and co-design with Mana Whenua, involving Māori communities in AI tool development and application, and respecting their values, rights, and interests throughout the planning process.

There are challenges and risks associated with using AI and GPT in resource management planning, such as ensuring the quality, validity, and reliability of the data and models used, transparency and accountability of the AI and GPT outputs, and the ethical, social, cultural and environmental implications of using AI and GPT in planning and design.

As this technology evolves, we'€™ll need to continue to look at how AI affects our profession, including ethical considerations. PlanTech intends be at the forefront of this over the coming years.