Global Journal of Multidisciplinary and Applied Sciences

Artificial Intelligence–Driven Decision Support Systems for Sustainable Urban Planning

Qurratulain Razak

Lecturer, Department of Urban & Regional Planning, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan

Muhammad Ali

Associate Professor, Department of Information Technology, National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Islamabad, Pakistan

Keywords: Artificial Intelligence, Decision Support Systems, Sustainable Urban Planning, Smart Cities, Data-Driven Governance, Urban Sustainability, Machine Learning, Policy Decision-Making

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Abstract

Rapid urbanization presents complex challenges related to environmental sustainability, infrastructure management, resource allocation, and social equity. Traditional urban planning approaches often struggle to address these multidimensional issues due to limited analytical capacity and fragmented data utilization. Artificial Intelligence–Driven Decision Support Systems (AI-DSS) offer a transformative solution by integrating advanced computational models with human expertise to support evidence-based and sustainable urban planning. This study examines the conceptual foundations, applications, benefits, and challenges of AI-driven DSS in urban planning contexts. Drawing on interdisciplinary literature, the article highlights how AI-based tools enhance land-use optimization, transportation efficiency, energy management, and environmental monitoring. The findings suggest that AI-DSS significantly improve planning accuracy, scenario evaluation, and policy responsiveness, while emphasizing the need for ethical governance, transparency, and institutional capacity building to ensure equitable and sustainable urban development.