AI x Urbanization

Research • AI • Urban Planning

Overview

This project explores how AI can support urban planning decisions for Dar es Salaam by reducing over-centralization of critical services. The intent is to turn movement data into practical decentralization strategies.

Problem

This mass movement of people toward a single central point creates traffic congestion, particularly during morning and evening peak hours. It results in lost productivity, increased pollution, and a lower quality of life for residents who spend hours commuting.

Approach

The proposed solution is an AI-assisted planning model that identifies demand hotspots and recommends where to place services outside the city center.

Implementation

The research implementation approach uses movement-pattern analysis to answer:

How many people move from each zone to the city center.
Which services drive that movement (healthcare, education, markets, offices).
Where decentralization would provide the highest impact.

These outputs can guide planners on where to prioritize service placement.

Current State

The project is currently in a research-and-framing stage with documented problem analysis and impact assessment artifacts. It now provides a clear, data-informed roadmap for piloting AI-supported decentralization decisions.