The use of urban analytics in strategic planning – A case study of the greater Sydney region plan

Technological advances in big data and artificial intelligence have seen a resurgence of enthusiasm for the application of data analytics in planning. History has shown that having high expectations doesn't always mean new analytical tools will be adopted and there is a need for current empirical research to evaluate how urban analytics are produced and used in planning practice. Through combining document analysis, citation network analysis and key informant interviews, this research examined the system behind the production and use of urban analytics during a major strategic planning process in Sydney, Australia. The analysis revealed a complex political system involving over 800 referenced sources from nearly 500 organisations. Although data analytics was just one aspect of the evidence for the plans, it served several base intelligence needs. Most prominently, conceptually simple models were used to measure and forecast the need for various types of land, including residential, commercial, and industrial areas. In addition to updating empirical knowledge, the research provides a new characterization of the social and political rationales shaping digital planning practices. The influence of data analytics on decision making was found to be far from direct. Political factors influenced all aspects of the system, from the availability of data to the use of analytics to coordinate the actions of various participants. For scholars, the findings of this research assist in evaluating emerging ideas about digital planning. For practitioners, the findings contribute to more informed investment in data, tools and training that meet the specific needs of strategic planning practice.