Google introduces AI-powered tool for urban growth management

Tech giant Google has introduced an AI-powered tool, the Open Buildings 2.5D Temporal Dataset, to plan for urban growth management and flood preparedness across Africa.

The Programme Manager of the Google Research Africa team, Mr. Abdoulaye Diack, who disclosed this in a statement on Friday in Lagos, said the Al-powered tool would help to plan for population growth, respond to crises, and understand urbanisation’s impact.

The Open Buildings 2.5D Temporal Dataset can track building changes. This includes estimates of building presence, counts, heights, and works between 2016 and 2023.

He also noted that the Open Buildings Project was an initiative to solve major issues of African villages and towns that were not on the map.

“This data helps to plan for future growth, respond to crises and ensure resources are distributed fairly, but in many parts of Africa and the Global South, this vital information is outdated or simply unavailable.

‘’That is why Google launched the Open Buildings project in 2021. It started at the AI Research Lab in Accra, Ghana, and has helped map 1.8 billion buildings across Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean—about 40 percent of the globe.

‘’This data has been used by governments, nongovernmental organisations (NGOs), and researchers to improve services and respond to disasters.

‘’Now, we are expanding this effort with the Open Buildings 2.5D Temporal Dataset, which does not just map buildings; it shows how they change over time and estimates their heights,’’ the Google official said.

Governments and organisations can use this data in various ways, such as flood preparedness, he explained.

“In flood-prone areas, accurate data can help authorities predict which buildings and neighbourhoods are most at risk.

“The data can also be used for urban growth, in cities like Kumasi, Ghana, which has seen rapid expansion; this data allows city planners to better manage resources and infrastructure.

According to him, in places like Palu, Indonesia, where a tsunami struck in 2018, this data showed how the built environment changed before and after the crisis, helping rebuild communities more effectively.

“It helps governments, humanitarian agencies, and researchers to ensure that everyone is counted and represented.

‘’With this new dataset, Google is giving these organisations better tools to plan for the future, respond to crises, and support communities in need.’’

NAN/Chidimma Gold