URBAN INSIGHT
What Is URBAN?
We’re building URBAN Insight, an interactive platform that transforms complex crop yield prediction models into accessible decision-making tools for urban planners and policymakers. URBAN Insight empowers governments, especially in developing regions with vulnerable food systems, to make data-driven planning choices that balance necessary urban growth with agricultural sustainability.
Urban Growth & Food Insecurity
Urban expansion is rapidly consuming fertile agricultural land, especially in developing countries with unregulated growth, threatening food security and sustainability. Cities like Lagos and Delhi have lost significant farmland, worsening food insecurity for millions (Casli et al., 2022). With an estimated 2 billion people facing food insecurity (Henderson, 2003), this issue directly impacts the UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly the goal of eliminating hunger.
Key Model Features
1. Simple upload tools for geospatial expansion plans
2. Real-time visual prediction maps showing crop yield impacts
3. Interactive scenario testing capabilities
4. Automated policy recommendations highlighting agricultural protection zones
The Engine Driving URBAN Insight
The platform builds upon our existing deep learning model which combines U-Net spatial analysis and bi-LSTM temporal processing to accurately predict how urban expansion impacts agricultural productivity. While the model itself achieves strong predictive accuracy, it currently exists only as a technical backend without practical application interfaces.
Want To Learn More?
Request a demo or talk to one of our experts to explore how URBAN Insight can help you make better, data-driven urban planning decisions.