What role does GIS play in urban planning?

The correct answer highlights the crucial function that Geographic Information Systems (GIS) serve in urban planning by analyzing spatial data and informing decision-making. GIS technology enables planners to visualize, analyze, and interpret data related to geographic locations. This includes information about land use, transportation networks, population density, and environmental conditions, among others.

By effectively managing spatial data, GIS allows urban planners to identify patterns, trends, and relationships within the built environment. This process aids in making informed decisions regarding zoning, infrastructure development, and resource allocation. It supports evidence-based planning by enabling planners to create scenarios, forecast outcomes, and evaluate the potential impacts of various planning alternatives.

The ability to integrate multiple layers of data makes GIS an indispensable tool, fostering participatory planning by making complex spatial information more accessible to stakeholders and the public. Through maps and visualizations produced by GIS, planners can communicate ideas and proposals more effectively, helping to gather community input and feedback, ultimately enhancing the quality of planning decisions.