From analytics to action: using technology to empower communities

As society evolves at an unprecedented pace, cities often struggle to adapt their decision-making processes, creating a growing disconnect that directly impacts communities. This disconnection leads to a loss of identity, further compounded by the rapid rise of AI and data-driven technologies – tools that, paradoxically, hold the key to bridging this gap.

We need to be committed to reimagining urban planning and design, and craft ways in which the needs, objectives and aspirations of communities are reflected. Society is transforming faster than ever before, reshaping how we live, work, and interact. Yet, many places are struggling to adapt, leading to a widening disconnect between urban environments, the systems designed to support them, and the communities they serve. Over the past decades, this gap has grown, with towns and cities losing touch with the needs and aspirations of their residents.

The result is a fragmentation of identity, rising feelings of loneliness and exclusion, and significant impacts on health and well-being. In England, the Community Life Survey conducted by the UK Government in 2023 and 2024 revealed that 61% of adults reported a strong sense of belonging to their immediate neighbourhood. This also highlights a concerning reality: nearly 40% of individuals feel disconnected from their local communities. This divide underscores the pressing challenge of fostering social cohesion in rapidly changing urban environments, where evolving societal dynamics risk further alienating individuals from the places they call home.

As urban planners, architects, and designers, we face the pressing challenge, and responsibility, of bridging this divide. The rise of AI and data-driven methodologies provides an opportunity to transform how we understand and shape our environments. These technologies have the capacity to help us navigate complexity, uncover patterns, and develop solutions that are more inclusive, sustainable, and – most importantly – aligned with the demands of communities. This approach not only addresses local needs but also supports the UK government’s broader goal to digitise and standardise planning processes nationwide, ensuring a more efficient framework for urban planning.

At the heart of our work are communities, as has always been the case. And by default, every community is shaped by a very unique DNA. Shaped by its people, places and challenges. That is why our methodology is carefully designed to capture this uniqueness and translate the complexity of urban systems into a way that’s understandable, precise and actionable.

Using highly sophisticated AI algorithms, data-driven methodologies and GIS technology, Yeme Tech have developed an accurate and consistent approach to measure places. By integrating the principles of the 15-minute city, our methodology focusses on creating accessible, walkable neighbourhoods that prioritise connectivity, quality of life and access to essential services. Ultimately, this approach shifts the focus from merely solving problems to leveraging them as catalysts for new opportunities.

We leverage millions of data points from diverse sources, layering information on demographics, sustainability, infrastructure, social dynamics, and economic activity to create a comprehensive picture of a place. By establishing a baseline of the community characteristics, a granular understanding enables us to identify strengths, highlight gaps, and propose critical interventions linked to existing stakeholders, rather than doing generic interventions in the area. While real transformation only happens on the ground, our methodology ensures that efforts are directed where they are needed the most, maximising impact and driving community- centred change.

Data, in its raw form, holds immense potential, but its true value is unlocked only when it is transformed into actionable insights. Yeme Tech follows a thorough structured process to maximise the impact of data, making it a cornerstone of every project we undertake.

1. We establish a baseline of the community characteristics: We start by aggregating and analysing diverse datasets, layering all kinds of information we are able to collect such as demographics, evening economy, deprivation, sustainability, and economic activity (among many others) to gain a comprehensive understanding of a community’s dynamics.
2. We measure strengths and weaknesses, what’s great about the place and what isn’t. And how this has changed over time: By identifying pockets of opportunity and areas of need, we highlight both the strengths that can be amplified and the gaps that require targeted intervention. In addition, we do this by looking at what’s improved the most and what’s being deteriorated.
3. We identify key stakeholders and channel action: We map out key stakeholders – from community groups to local businesses – that can act as catalysts for real change and align those with the community’s priorities, creating a framework where every intervention is deeply rooted in local needs.

Our tools and services are designed to empower urban professionals to understand places and equip them with what they need to make an active and targeted design, unlocking the true potential of every place:

• The Community Data Platform: This intuitive tool integrates millions of data points to enable professionals to identify underserved areas, forecast scenarios, and align strategies with community priorities.
• Tailored reports: Bespoke reports provide targeted, strategic guidance by translating detailed analytics into actionable insights, empowering professionals to make informed decisions that foster long-term community resilience and wellbeing.

The methodology has enabled us to craft a strategic collaboration with the Planning Portal, the leading platform in the UK’s urban planning landscape. This project, set to launch in the coming months, will allow users to access Yeme Tech’s services for all planning applications across England, marking a significant step toward streamlining and enhancing the planning process.

The future of urban planning, at least from a tech perspective, lies in maximising the impact of data and into the standardisation of the different processes of planning. As AI continues to evolve, its capacity to analyse and predict patterns will enable even deeper insights into the needs of communities. By streamlining data into consistent frameworks, we can better define what makes a place “good”, creating a shared language for planning and design teams, and directing this to core rooted organisations.

Availability of data from the community represents another exciting frontier. By involving residents in the data production process, taking advantage of the vast generation of data in our everyday lives, we can capture hyperlocal insights and foster a sense of ownership in the development process. Community participation not only uplifts places but also ensures that interventions are rooted in the realities of those who live there.

In conclusion, the successful integration of this methodology into existing planning systems will be pivotal for driving meaningful change. Our collaboration with the Planning Portal brings us closer to embedding this approach seamlessly into the planning journey, transforming it from concept to a tangible reality. By aligning innovative tools with real-world applications, we are one step closer to reshaping communities across England, fostering sustainable, inclusive, and impactful urban development.

This article appears in the AT Journal Spring issue number 153, 2025 as "From analytics to action: using technology to empower communities" and was written by Alejandro Quinto, Head of Innovation, Yeme Tech.

--CIAT

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