Design in the age of AI

The design innovation and technology development has focused on metro cities for decades, that are somehow neglecting the Tier II cities of India. Change is happening, though. Artificial Intelligence (AI) has moved from being in the realm of science fiction to being an essential component in the way Tier II cities are designing, planning, and constructing spaces which are more efficient and centered on community living.

How Artificial Intelligence is shaping the way Tier II cities build

Tier II cities sit at remarkable crossroads. They are in the midst of a rapid expansion alongside a burgeoning middle class, yet they struggle with infrastructural limitations, sustainability, and preserving the culture of the regions. In this scenario, AI is stepping in as a quietly influential supporter during the planning and decision-making stages of construction, as it is providing information and data analytical support where years of observation and trial would have otherwise been needed.

Moreover, in these cities, the influence of artificial intelligence in design is most pronounced in the context of urban planning. In tier 2 cities, planning has always suffered from outdated information and slow processes, leading to random expansion. Traffic, pollution, land use, and even demographic information can be analyzed by AI-powered urban planning tools. Predictive models for urban growth can now be made much more easily. This enables cities to develop their plans in a way that reduces the chaos that comes with rapid urbanization. Master plans can be created with ease of movement, green spaces, and accessibility prioritized.

Besides, AI is presenting fresh opportunities for site examination and design concept development for architects. Tasks that required weeks of painstaking manual work, like analyzing sunlight, wind patterns, and noise levels, can now be simulated with AI tools in mere hours. Not only does this expedite the design process, but it also ensures that the structure is in harmony with the site’s microclimate, which lowers energy use and improves user comfort. Practically, this means that a residential project in a Tier II city can efficiently optimize daylight, curb heat capture, and leverage natural ventilation, making the home more sustainable and economically advantageous over time.

Further, AI is also changing the way community engagement happens at the design level. Mostly, projects face resistance in smaller cities because the community feels alienated from the process of design. Visual tools powered by AI and virtual walkthroughs allow them to see what has been designed long before building commences; thus, transparency is instilled while fostering meaningful feedback from future users. It matters most in smaller cities where strong community ties prevail and collective identity significantly shapes public spaces.

Another major area where AI is being used more and more is in construction management. Predictive analytics can accurately forecast material requirements, thereby controlling wastage as well as maintaining the cost factor, two major factors in project viability in Tier II cities. Construction progress can be monitored through the usage of AI-enabled monitoring systems that also identify risks at an early stage and ensure proper lines of communication between contractors, consultants, and clients to ensure the delivery of projects on time with quality uncompromised.

Beyond construction, AI is molding the intelligent infrastructure of Tier II cities. Piloting AI-based traffic management solutions to ease congestion, as well as predictive maintenance on utilities, so that residents get uninterrupted services. Integrating artificial intelligence for systematic monitoring and operation of street lighting, waste disposal, and water supply systems can maintain a city for its growing population without giving pressure on existing infrastructures.

But the development of AI can be undertaken fairly sensibly. The experience of space for people can't be replaced, especially about meaning, local context, aspirations and actions. AI can aid architects and planners, but should never replace human instinct or intuitive creativity. You cannot make a neighborhood street feel convivial nor a courtyard full of joy because the proper amount of light illuminates it, nor pop out a shaded, responsibly planned walkway into a comfortable experience without empathy and the totality of human understanding needs, which no algorithm will ever be able to completely fulfil.

The affordability and flexible nature of AI tools also allow them to be applied to Tier II cities. Additionally, the barriers to technology adoption for cities can be significant and costly within the larger metros. However, many of the solutions available with AI are scalable, and therefore can be adopted by small firms and generic municipal bodies (without a large-scale investment). This democratization from technology allows everyone, not just a privileged few, to take advantage of AI in a meaningful, sustainable urbanization push.

Thus, in the ongoing story of the Indian built environment, Tier II cities are now emerging as the new hubs of growth, innovation, and community. As these cities expand and evolve, the purposeful integration of AI into design and construction can help these new cities build sustainably, intelligently, and with a human-centric focus. This is a chance to avoid getting stuck in the past and to leapfrog towards a future in which data and design can coalesce to create spaces that can represent aspirations concerning the environment.

ByTripat Girdhar, Co-Founder and Architect at Arete Design Studio