Urban Insights

INTRODUCTION In today's fast-paced world, cities are constantly evolving. Urban development is a complex process that involves careful planning, collaboration, and community engagement. One often overlooked but immensely powerful tool in this process is content creation. From written articles to interactive presentations and 3D visualizations, content creation plays a significant role in city development, helping to shape perceptions, engage stakeholders, and communicate the vision and progress of urban projects. The usefulness & importance of content creation in urban planning and city development, becomes even more apparent when we consider that about 4.8 billion people are active users of social networking media, with the average user spending about 151 minutes per day in social networking apps. This article, therefore, dives into the state of content creation in African cities and later looks into it's usefulness in urban planning.  Content Creation and the African City...

Introduction In recent years, the fusion of Artificial Intelligence (AI) with urban planning has generated both excitement and apprehension within the global community. The African continent, with its unique challenges and opportunities, has stood witness to the transformative power of AI in shaping the landscapes of its cities. This blog post delves into the positive and negative impacts of AI in urban planning, specifically in the context of African cities. Positive Impact of AI in African Urban Planning: 1. Data-Driven Decision Making: The application of AI in urban planning has provided African cities with a powerful tool to harness the vast amounts of data generated daily. Case in point, the City of Cape Town, South Africa, has employed AI algorithms to analyze data from various sources such as satellite imagery, social media, and sensors. This data-driven approach has enabled authorities to make informed decisions regarding traffic management, infrastructure development, and dis...

Introduction On July 2023, the President of the Republic of Botswana, H.E. Dr. Mokgweetsi Eric Masisi, embarked on an ambitious endeavor to transition Botswana from an upper middle-income country to a high-income nation. Central to this initiative is the Mindset Change campaign, aimed at awakening cognitive development that has long lain dormant in the Batswana population. The campaign seeks to catalyze a shift in the thinking process, fostering attitudes and behaviors conducive to driving the nation towards high-income status by 2036. While this initiative has sparked debates, particularly in the realm of social media, it has also inspired various stakeholders to engage in self-analysis and reflection, fostering a growth mindset in alignment with Vision 2036. This article delves into the aspects of Urban Planning in Botswana that require a transformation in mindset to support the nation's ambitious goals. The State of Urban Planning in Botswana and Imperatives for Mindset Transfor...

Introduction: In the relentless pursuit of progress, humanity has inadvertently triggered a monumental shift in weather patterns over the past few centuries. The industrial revolution marked a pivotal moment in history as societies transitioned from agrarian to mechanized economies. However, this transformation came at a great cost – the release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Consequently, our planet and its inhabitants have been grappling with the consequences ever since. Rising temperatures, prolonged droughts, water scarcity, and escalating floods have become distressingly common occurrences. As we grapple with the reality of climate change, it is essential to address the carbon footprint and its impact on our environment. Botswana, like many countries, is experiencing the profound effects of climate change due to unsustainable practices and carbon-emitting activities. Urban centers within the country have emerged as major contributors to greenhouse gas emissions. In this ...

Introduction:   The dynamic landscape of African cities is undergoing a rapid transformation due to urbanization. As more people seek better opportunities and living conditions in urban areas, the significance of effective urban planning becomes ever more crucial. In this blog post, we will delve into the state of urban planning in Africa, exploring both the commendable progress made and the persistent challenges that need to be addressed. By understanding the role of urban planning in shaping the continent's future, we can identify the prospects of sustainable development and examine the feasibility of outsourcing planning services from developed countries. The State of Urban Planning in Africa:   Urban planning in Africa is a tale of diverse experiences. Many cities have made impressive strides in this field, boasting well-formulated plans and tangible improvements in infrastructure, transportation, and public spaces. For example, Kigali, Rwanda's capital, has garnered ...

Introduction: The journey for freshly registered graduate planners has become increasingly challenging in recent years, exacerbated by the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and a scarcity of job opportunities, many graduates are left feeling uncertain about their future. Moreover, it does not make it easier for graduate planners that i n 2021 a directive was issued from the Department of Town & Country Planning (DTCP) discouraging freshly registered graduate planners from submitting any of their planning works for consideration to planning authorities. The reason given was that so doing contravenes the provisions & intents of their registration. The directive continued to say the graduate planner must be a resident at a planning firm or institution for at least two years before they can begin to independently submit their works at the relevant planning authorities. A strange and time insensitive directive to say the least. For one would think in a period of economic recession...