APA: Can AI Empower Planners to Accomplish More with Less?
Delaware, Ohio, a city of around 45,000 residents just north of Columbus, is also exploring using AI for planning work. Economic Development Director Nic Langford has experimented with a new generative AI design tool from TestFit that can optimize building layouts.
He says he had the tool run through "100 different iterations" for a mixed-use development proposal. By downloading the options, he could easily adjust for setbacks, building height limits, and unit count density. He says the tool does have limitations — the overhead view won't capture surface or subsurface land characteristics — but those are outweighed by the speed and convenience saved by not drawing up building layouts manually.
Delaware, Ohio, a city of around 45,000 residents just north of Columbus, is also exploring using AI for planning work. Economic Development Director Nic Langford has experimented with a new generative AI design tool from TestFit that can optimize building layouts.
He says he had the tool run through "100 different iterations" for a mixed-use development proposal. By downloading the options, he could easily adjust for setbacks, building height limits, and unit count density. He says the tool does have limitations — the overhead view won't capture surface or subsurface land characteristics — but those are outweighed by the speed and convenience saved by not drawing up building layouts manually.
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