AI Basics for Urban Planning and Development
Overview
2026: Time to turn AI into Return On Investment.
Urban planning and development is complex, time-pressured and highly accountable. Councils, referral authorities, applicants, consultants and developers all have a lot to gain if AI is applied in the right places — with the right safeguards.
This 2-hour starter session explains AI in plain language and focuses on what matters most for planning and development: trust, accuracy, evidence, security, and practical ROI. We’ll cut through hype, show where AI genuinely helps (and where it doesn’t), and outline what “good implementation” looks like in a real-world planning environment.
Delivered by
James Mant MPIA & Jennifer George MBA, GAICD (Finalist – Women in Digital: Leader in AI)
Who it’s for
Designed for people working in, or adjacent to, the planning and development system:
- Local government (planners, coordinators, managers, executives)
- Referral authorities and infrastructure agencies
- Consultants (planning, urban design, transport, engineering)
- Developers, applicants, project managers
- Digital / IT / transformation leads supporting planning functions
No technical background required.
Course supported by the Planning Institute of Australia
Lineup
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Highlights
- 2 hours
- Online
Refund Policy
Location
Online event
✅ Part 1: AI Foundations & Strategic Context
Topics covered: What AI is (and isn’t) — and what LLMs actually do How it works in simple terms (why it can be wrong) Opportunities vs limitations in planning and development Trust and accuracy: evidence, repeatability, and “auditability” Data and confidentiality: what’s safe to use, what’s not Ethics and governance: transparency, privacy, accountability Why AI matters now for planning, local government and the development industry (2026: turning experimentation into ROI) Outcome: A clear understanding of core AI concepts, the main risks (accuracy + data), and how to think about AI responsibly in planning practice.
✅ Part 2: Applying AI to Planning & Development Workflows
This session shifts from concepts to practical application: where AI genuinely adds value in day-to-day work, and how to adopt it without compromising professional judgement or statutory decision-making. What we’ll cover: Policy / control research support and quick interpretation (with guardrails) Drafting and improving correspondence, reports and standard text Submission quality and completeness checks to reduce rework Referral coordination support: tracking, prompts and communications Summarising complex material for engagement and decision support What to automate vs what must stay with planners (human-in-the-loop) Responsible use in practice: accuracy checks, prompts, and documentation Preparing your organisation: people, process and systems (what to do next) Measuring ROI: what to track (time saved, rework reduced, risk reduced, consistency imp
Frequently asked questions
Organised by
James Mant
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