Urban AI Lab
Urban AI Lab is a cutting-edge research center dedicated to revolutionizing the study and practice of urban science. By harnessing the power of artificial intelligence and computational methods, our lab addresses some of the most pressing challenges in urban planning, civil engineering, and the built environment.
Our interdisciplinary approach combines advanced data analysis, machine learning, and theoretical models to explore the complex dynamics of cities.
At Urban AI Lab, we are not just imagining the cities of tomorrow — we are making a difference today.
URBAN AI LAB //
URBAN AI LAB //
What is URBAN AI ?
Urban AI represents the convergence of artificial intelligence and urban science, aiming to revolutionize how cities are understood, planned, and managed. As cities grow more complex, traditional methods of urban analysis and planning are often insufficient to address the multifaceted issues they face. Urban AI seeks to bridge this gap by leveraging AI's capabilities in data analysis, predictive modeling, and automation.
Dr. Shenhao Wang introduced the concept of Urban AI in 2018 and established the Urban AI Lab at the University of Florida in the summer of 2022. Urban AI Lab is the first-ever research lab featuring interdisciplinary Urban AI concept in the U.S. and globally. Since then, the concept of Urban AI has gained traction, with more researchers and scholars advancing and refining it through ongoing research and experimentation.
Research Themes
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We model how individuals choose where to live, how to travel, and how to spend their time — fusing discrete choice theory with deep learning so predictions stay both accurate and interpretable.
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We treat the city as an interconnected system, developing spatiotemporal deep learning with rigorous uncertainty quantification to forecast urban dynamics and build resilience into mobility networks.
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We use generative and foundation models - diffusion, vision-language, and large language models - to generate land use, mobility, and urban form, pairing goal-conditioned generation with evaluation to design sustainable and livable cities.