Rethinking Planning for the Future with AI and ML
Local Government
Future projections help local governments plan for expanding public services like schools, parks, and sanitation. There’s so much data that local officials may feel that they are drowning in data, and most aren’t trained data scientists who can readily interpret the data for accurate forecasting.
Data-driven Decision Making
By integrating artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) into existing systems, local governing bodies can create better and more sustainable plans for their municipality’s future. With their data safely and locally housed, officials could ask their database a question in plain language and get a plain language answer accompanied by the data to support it.
Predictive Analytics
Every variable of city planning impacts another variable. Suppose a gas station permit is approved just off the highway exit. In that case, there should also be a fast food or fast casual restaurant nearby to help maximize tax revenue generated by people exiting the highway to refuel. If the gas station and a fast food restaurant are located just off the highway off-ramp, how will that impact the local traffic? Would red light cameras or lowering the speed limit prevent accidents at the intersection of the highway off-ramp and the local road? If we approve the gas station and the fast food restaurant, and then we widen and signalize the intersection, what can be done to offset the environmental impact of the new businesses and their traffic? The ripple effect can be overwhelming. AI and ML can use existing patterns of economic, traffic, and environmental data to help with city planning and provide the data necessary for transparency and accountability to citizens.
Emergency Planning
Tabletop exercises planned and facilitated by AI and ML can evaluate proposed emergency response plans and suggest data-based alternatives. They can also objectively evaluate weaknesses and areas of enhanced risk for certain scenarios, such as flooding, fire, and aging infrastructure. The integration of AI and ML in emergency planning can improve resource efficiency and safety.
Addressing Citizen Concerns
An generative AI agent can answer questions 24/7 on the municipality website. It can also find patterns in citizen concerns that could help city officials preserve green space, install or repair streetlights, and improve refuse collection routes.
Getting Started
Your community planning committee can have a virtual meeting with officials and citizens from a town with a similar profile that has already adopted AI and ML measures. You can have a community meeting to address privacy and data security concerns. Demonstrate the transparency of the system outputs. Start small, run a pilot program to address a specific need and share your results with the community. Finally, you can partner with Vertex Innovations to build bespoke solutions for your distinct needs.
