Architecture & People International Conference 2025

Reflections of The Future 2.0

ARCHITECTING INTELLIGENCE

EXPLORING AI’S IMPACT ON BUILT ENVIRONMENT 

Artificial intelligence in recent times has taken over the domain of technical advancements, user accessibility, and resource management henceforth aiding human interaction and enhancing their experience. This has also extended in the field of built environment thereby establishing its cue in architecture and urban studies. With changing times and evolution, the role of AI and its exploration has increased multi fold in the dynamics of the built through aids such as analytical algorithms, generative and simulation design tools.

With the advancement of technology and innovations in the digital domain, the realm of architecture and urban development has seen massive transformation. This transformation also reflects in the practices and novel approaches in the architectural and urban pedagogy. As Saskia Sassen writes in her book, The Global City, cities have become the organisms that facilitate the exchange of capital and information. The cities are embodied with intrinsic networks of economy that have seen massive transition with the rise of technology and data based digital tools. Manuel Castell has stressed enough in his literary work on the cultural, institutional and spatial shifts in societies owing to the enhanced and critical role of electronic communication networks in facets of everyday life such as work, livelihood, public services, social interaction, education and politics.

The patterns and fabric of a networked society presents a varied and dynamic organization of the society and the spaces it iterates and creates. The city renders an identity of ever transitioning space permeating the flows of technology, innovation and economy that reflects in societal, cultural, political and spatial reconfigurations. Cities thus become the repository of vast amounts of networks, information and data which are crucial in the urban growth and development.

In the national context, post liberalization; India has swiftly taken up the road to develop ICT networks and digital infrastructure, largely focusing on the urban centers. These innovations and technical advancement have created a ripple in the essence of Digital Public Infrastructure. India with its shared, open technology platforms, and DPI has enabled public, governance and management to develop business skills and create community based digital ecosystems that majorly drive economic growth. The penetration of the internet and affordable data in India post has opened the floodgates of digital tools and instruments within a larger set of audience and not limited to only urban centers.

The spatial reconfiguration in Indian cities can be modelled through the large data sets based on systematic measuring, analysis, sensing and prediction of urban systems. The urban systems are  based on intricate and rhizomatic layers of people, place and phenomena; with multi sectoral  influences of geodemographic, urban fabric and morphology, housing, economic practices,  consumption, trade, migration, health, spatial interaction, recreation and governance.

With these advancements in technology, it is important to acknowledge and address the emerging challenges of digital education, citizenship, participatory approach in planning, representation and evaluation of data rich and smart development. The digital divide at the moment seems to be wide between the urban and rural population with major policies and schemes routed in the urban areas. The digital marginalization and pressing urban issues in Indian

Cities can be curbed by using the advanced digital tools and toolkits in creating frameworks for inclusive development through mapping, visualization, simulation and modelling.

It is required to have incubation of sustainable ‘Digital Social Innovations’ (DSI) that will ensure digital technologies support diverse end-user communities and will have long-lasting social value and impact. The technological and digital advancement and innovations in architecture and urban discourse can be harnessed as a collaboration between academia, public and private institutions, citizen groups, administration and government. The citizen-led digital innovation can lead to an inclusive and participatory approach in planning, supporting and sustaining civic engagement and action in communities. This facet leads to research and critical inquiry of urban spaces and development of multiple frameworks that includes initiation, innovation and integration of approaches and knowledge systems of the community.

The digital reforms with integration of artificial intelligence aims to address the pressing issues of  data availability, data management, capacity and skill building of the stakeholders and  development of customized toolkits for urban India. Promoting digital literacy and educating the community about the safe and secure use of digital technologies and tools is an important step in integrating the technology within urban discourse. Creating pools of shared digital infrastructure with acquired knowledge of data sharing, management and catalogue can foster the participation of a large set of people in the decision-making process. The integration paves the way for social mobilization and upward mobility, economic flows with the focus on circular economy, resource efficiency, precise management and enhanced preparedness.