Urban Analytics & Computational Design for Architects

Cities are no longer static compositions—they are living, evolving systems shaped by flows of people, infrastructure, data, and environment. As urban environments become increasingly complex and data-rich, architects and urban designers are turning to computational methods to better understand and shape the forces that define them.

This session introduces urban analytics and computational design as powerful tools for evidence-based urban and architectural decision-making. Participants will explore how spatial data, digital modelling, and computational workflows can uncover hidden patterns in movement, density, land use, and social behaviour. Framed through the lens of complexity theory, the session demonstrates how cities can be understood as dynamic systems—enabling more adaptive, resilient, and responsive design strategies for the built environment.

Key Topics Discussed:

• Urban systems as complex, dynamic networks
• Introduction to urban analytics in architectural and urban design practice
• Computational design methods for evidence-based decision-making
• Spatial data analysis: movement, density, and land use patterns
• Urban morphology and spatial configuration analysis
• Digital modelling workflows for urban environments
• Data sources for urban analysis (GIS, sensor data, mobility data, etc.)
• Complexity theory and its application to urban systems
• Simulation and scenario modelling in urban design
• Human activity patterns and socio-spatial behaviour analysis
• Translating data insights into design strategies
• Designing adaptive, resilient, and responsive urban environments