From Data to Decisions - Ai, Spatial analysis, and Housing for all

This interactive training introduces participants to the use of mapping and spatial data visualization as practical tools to support inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable urban development, with a specific focus on housing and human settlements. The session familiarizes participants with the fundamentals of spatial data, urban mapping with machine learning, and geospatial visualization and analysis, and demonstrates how these approaches can be applied to housing, land, and urban resilience challenges. The training showcases two UNITAC digital tools: the Building and Establishment Automated Mapper (BEAM) tool and the Urban Recovery Planning System (URPS), with references to additional tools such as data platforms for urban services provision and data collection tools. Through live demonstrations, case examples from South Africa and Central America and hands-on exercises, participants explore how BEAM supports evidence-based decision-making by integrating spatial indicators related to the built environment and housing, and how URPS enables cities to visualize damage and infrastructure in critical condition, assess risks, prioritize actions, and design integrated resilience portfolios. The session combines short presentations with interactive activities and group discussions, enabling participants to apply the tools in their own contexts.