IDEAMAPS Data Ecosystem: Co-creating regenerative data ecosystems with urban informal communities for justice and transformation

This session presents the IDEAMAPS Data Ecosystem as a participatory approach to rethinking how AI and urban data are used in informal settlements. It argues that while data and Earth Observation technologies can improve urban planning, they often reinforce inequalities when they misrepresent deprived areas. The framework introduces a co-creation model where communities, data scientists, and local authorities jointly develop AI-driven urban models that reflect lived realities and local priorities. Drawing on cases from Kenya and Nigeria, the session demonstrates how community-led data ecosystems improve both the accuracy and fairness of urban informality mapping, strengthening more inclusive and participatory urban regeneration processes.