Urban AI Lab

Urban AI Lab is a cutting-edge research center dedicated to revolutionizing the study and practice of urban science. By harnessing the power of artificial intelligence and computational methods, our lab addresses some of the most pressing challenges in urban planning, civil engineering, and the built environment.

Our interdisciplinary approach combines advanced data analysis, machine learning, and theoretical models to explore the complex dynamics of cities.

At Urban AI Lab, we are not just imagining the cities of tomorrow — we are making a difference today.

URBAN AI LAB //

URBAN AI LAB //

What is URBAN AI ?

Urban AI represents the convergence of artificial intelligence and urban science, aiming to revolutionize how cities are understood, planned, and managed. As cities grow more complex, traditional methods of urban analysis and planning are often insufficient to address the multifaceted issues they face. Urban AI seeks to bridge this gap by leveraging AI's capabilities in data analysis, predictive modeling, and automation.

Dr. Shenhao Wang introduced the concept of Urban AI in 2018 and established the Urban AI Lab at the University of Florida in the summer of 2022. Urban AI Lab is the first-ever research lab featuring interdisciplinary Urban AI concept in the U.S. and globally. Since then, the concept of Urban AI has gained traction, with more researchers and scholars advancing and refining it through ongoing research and experimentation.

Research Themes

  • Resilient Urban AI focuses on creating urban systems that can withstand and adapt to uncertainties arising from human behavior, natural disasters, and climate change.

  • Ethical Urban AI focuses on promoting transparency, interpretability, and algorithmic fairness in urban applications. While urban scientists have long sought to create socially just cities, AI technologies risk amplifying inequities due to machine biases.

  • Generative Urban AI enhances urban planning and system design by integrating automation, creativity, and sustainability goals. It generates land and transportation systems guided by sustainability metrics, while keeping humans in the loop to ensure creative fidelity.