Artificial intelligence builds more sustainable cities

Artificial intelligence builds more sustainable cities Future urban planners will be able to test the effects of new traffic patterns on air quality, carbon dioxide emissions and residents’ wellbeing before a single block of concrete has been lifted. Could AI slow down climate change? To anyone who has been following recent discussions, the idea sounds strange. The water and energy consumed by generative AI would seem more likely to exacerbate than alleviate climate problems. Yet AI may also have a part to play in building a more sustainable future. Professor of Computer Science Laura Ruotsalainen of the University of Helsinki is working with her research group to develop machine-learning methods that could help find practical solutions for building better cities. Simulations are used to investigate how traffic can flow smoothly and people reach their destinations with ease, while air quality is preserved, emissions are kept in check, and cities remain agreeable places to live. “Instead of having to conduct decades of observations, AI can help us experiment with solutions and obtain rapid answers,” says Ruotsalainen. “We can hardly build a new city from scratch, observe its impact on the climate and people’s wellbeing, and then conclude that we got it wrong. With AI, results can be obtained in just a few weeks without any harm to the climate or people.” From seconds to decades Urban planning involves juggling a number of competing goals and timescales. This poses a distinc...