Urban planners are navigating a rapidly changing landscape. How can you address the key challenges ahead?

One thing I’ve found helpful is adopting emerging technologies. Urban planning has traditionally relied on conventional methods of data collection and fieldwork. As a result, experienced planners may hesitate to embrace new technologies. However, adopting these technologies offers significant benefits, such as cost and time efficiency. In developing countries like Sri Lanka, the initial costs of establishing infrastructure and training officials can be high. While I acknowledge the challenges in the early stages of implementation, I want to emphasize that although adopting new technologies or changes can be difficult initially, they eventually become routine. If we resist these advancements, we risk falling behind compared to others.

1. Resource optimization: Research shows that the use of IoT technologies can help better manage urban resources such as energy and water. 2. Service improvement: Smart cities can enhance urban services using real-time data, such as optimizing public transportation systems. 3. Security and privacy challenges: Studies indicate that integrating new technologies can increase security risks and privacy concerns. 4. Interdisciplinary collaboration: The success of smart city initiatives depends on effective collaboration between urban planners, technology experts, and policymakers. 5. Digital equity: Research emphasizes the importance of ensuring equal access to new technologies for all citizens to prevent the creation of a digital divide.

Las tecnologías emergentes son fundamentales para la recopilación de datos del comportamiento de las ciudades según sus residentes (sociocultural), el medio ambiente y la economía. Permitiendo realizar estrategias y tomar decisiones sobre el funcionamiento que mejore la sostenibilidad. Es muy importante para llevar a cabo estas tecnologías la preparación de la sociedad y los residentes para su uso adecuado, permitiendo una interacción profunda con todos estos sistemas.

Over the years of working in the sector, I can be affirmative that urban planning and environment management has to go in parallel. One of the key aspects to urban planning is sustainable waste management; with ever growing population, the development is inevitable and with it comes the stream of waste which needs to be managed in time. There should not be any legacy waste in upcoming urban centers and circular economy shall be engrained in public as well as development professionals.

There are vast inequities in the distribution of healthcare, housing, Transportation, food accessibility, industries, recreational facilities, green spaces and educational opportunities, among others.With environment, the social equity principle is based on the distribution of resources in keeping with the needs of communities or individuals. If we make an environmental intervention without considering how it will impact people, we risk causing harm to communities or missing opportunities to make improvements where they are needed most. With the community opinion, Urban Planners should be designing spaces that are welcoming to people of all income levels, employment statuses, age groups, and gender identities will be key to their success.

Any proposed development without the involvement of relevant stakeholders is fatal. Community inclusiveness, participation, and public engagement have always been one of the core values of urban planning, it seeks to carry along the inhabitants of the location to give them a sense of belonging and accurately reach out to their very needs without methodological assumption.

Planners are just technocrats while Policy makers are the Government representatives. In most cases, Planners do not have enough resources to implement their projects. That's why we should relates with the government (Policy makers). We need to communicate clearly, concisely, and convincingly about our urban planning goals, strategies, and outcomes. We also need to communicate frequently, consistently and transparently to keep them informed and updated on the progress and challenges of your projects. Planners should also use evidence, data, and visuals to support your arguments and recommendations.This relationship is very important in planning profession. I recommend that planners should go into politics.

The key challenges facing urban planners in changing the landscape are, first, an environment and surrounding spaces for sunlight to reach, good views, not being closed around, and second, surrounding structures that are not annoying such as tall towers, and bridges. , electric towers, etc., and accurate calculations about slope, height, river, forest, open space, and surrounding green, if any.