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Imagine a green city, vibrant with lush gardens, pedestrian pathways, and bike lanes, where buses can take you to schools, stores, and service centers within just a few minutes. This vision is not a fantasy but a real-life example of the concept of the "15-minute city," where all essential needs are within easy reach, promoting public health and reducing vehicle emissions.
In a significant step towards realizing this urban dream, a recent study by researchers at Tsinghua University in China has revealed how artificial intelligence is playing a key role in creating more efficient urban designs. Led by automation expert Dr. Yu Cheng, the research team developed a machine learning-based system to tackle the challenges of urban planning. The study found that this AI-powered system produced urban designs that outperformed human designs by about 50%, in terms of access to services, increased green spaces, and reduced traffic congestion.
The team tested the system with a project focused on designing small urban areas. After just two days of training on neural networks, AI successfully proposed optimal road layouts and land use plans, aligning with the 15-minute city concept and local planning needs. While designing entire cities remains a greater challenge, automating certain planning steps has drastically reduced the time required to complete tasks, from hours to just seconds.
Researchers believe that integrating AI into urban planning is not about replacing human planners, but rather assisting them. By automating routine and time-consuming tasks, planners can focus on more complex aspects, such as enhancing the aesthetics of cities and involving local communities in decision-making.
This collaboration between human intellect and artificial intelligence could make the "15-minute city" a reality, transforming urban life for the better.