We are pleased to announce the successful completion of Phase 1 of the Housing Planning Scenario Explorer, delivered in collaboration with the World Bank under the Global Smart City Partnership Program (GSCP).

The project establishes a strong digital foundation for a next generation of data-driven, scenario-based urban planning tools, supporting more informed decision-making for rapidly growing cities.

Building on Proven Foundations

The Housing Planning Scenario Explorer builds on the Rapid Urbanism Explorer (RUE), evolving it into a modern, modular, and open-source platform. Phase 1 focused on transforming the original concept into a scalable, API-driven solution capable of supporting collaborative planning, future expansion, and integration with external systems.

What Was Delivered in Phase 1

Phase 1 focused on the core technical and architectural foundations, including:

1. A secure and scalable API backend built on open-source technologies for managing geospatial data, validating study areas, and generating planning outputs such as road networks, settlements, and lots.
2. A modern web-based frontend enabling users to define sites, explore planning scenarios, and visualise spatial data through an intuitive interface.
3. Financial model integration through external tools, allowing planning scenarios to be evaluated alongside cost and feasibility considerations.
4. A containerised deployment architecture, supporting flexible, self-hosted deployments and future scalability.

The platform was delivered using an Agile approach, ensuring transparency, continuous feedback, and high delivery quality throughout the project lifecycle.

Why It Matters

Cities face increasing pressure to plan faster while balancing affordability, sustainability, and infrastructure constraints. The Housing Planning Scenario Explorer addresses this challenge by enabling planners and decision-makers to:

1. Explore multiple urban development scenarios
2. Understand spatial and financial implications early
3. Test assumptions before implementation
4. Build evidence-based, transparent planning strategies

Phase 1 lays the groundwork for future enhancements, including advanced 3D modelling, environmental and social indicators, and deeper analytical capabilities.

Looking Ahead

With the successful delivery of Phase 1, the platform is well positioned for future development. Upcoming phases will expand functionality and analytical depth, further supporting sustainable, data-driven urban development at scale.

This milestone reflects a shared commitment to open-source innovation, smart city planning, and practical digital tools that support real-world urban challenges.