How New Technology and Approaches Are Changing Spatial Planning: Maldives 2040. From the UDG & IUDI

09/08/2026

00:00:00 – Clip
00:00:32 – Introduction by the Chair Meenakshi Bhagat IUDI
00:03:40 – Oscar McDonald. The origins of the project + How planning is changing, globally
00:07:46 – Systematic evidence in Planning and Medicine
00:10:33 – Big data
00:10:50 – Maldives Development Plan
00:11:10 – AI / Machine Learning /Maldives Plan / Urban Planning and Design
00:11:56 – New Planning Tools
00:13:38 – A consolidated platform
00:14:46 – Creating more equitable access (to information)
00:17:11 – Parth Mehta: What is the future of tools, analysis and visual communication in planning and urban design.
00:19:00 – Simplifying access to helpful software / Demystifying software interfaces via i. Tools. ii. Analysis. iii.Visual communication.
00:21:02 – Project origins, the prototype
00:22:06 – The tool itself. A spatial intelligence platform
00:25:06 – The interface
00:30:00 – The visualisation
00:30:46 – Compare and analyse.
00:31:11 – Dynamic scoring
00:31:40 – Draw mode
00:32:12 – Ishan Saeed: Using the tools in the context of a real life planning strategy. The background of politics, planning, architecture and urban design in the Maldives over recent decades.
00:55:36 – A polycentric network
00:56:47- Four key elements for a spatial strategy. The proposed spatial intelligence platform
01:00:11- Discussion
Organised by the Urban Design Group and the Institute of Urban Designers India
Chaired by Meenakshi Bhagat, Fellow Member IUDI
Presentations by:
Oscar McDonald, Director – OMC Consulting, Principal – Urban Intelligence Lab
Parth Mehta, Project M – Lead developer and Spatial data analyst, Urban Designer – Prior and Partners
Ishan Saeed, Director – Atollscape, Lead Spatial Planner – Maldives National Development Plan

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