ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN URBAN PLANNING: A STAKEHOLDER ASSESSMENT OF ITS IMPACT FOR SUSTAINABLE CITY DEVELOPMENT IN SOUTH-EAST, NIGERIA.

Rapid urbanization in Nigeria has intensified pressures on infrastructure, housing, and the environment, thereby requiring sustainable urban planning. The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into urban planning presents an opportunity to address the complex challenges of rapid urbanization. This study assesses the awareness, perceptions, and experiences of urban planners in South-East, Nigeria, regarding the potential of AI to support sustainable city development. The study adopted a cross-sectional design, and data was collected from 220 purposively selected respondents, including students, educators, government and private practitioners. Descriptive statistics was used to analyze the data. Findings reveal a moderate general awareness of AI (62%) but significantly lower awareness of its specific applications in urban planning (3.5%). Respondents perceived substantial benefits of AI in enhancing decision-making (90%), saving time and costs (88%), and improving sustainability (86%). However, critical barriers to adoption were identified, including inadequate infrastructure and poor data quality (86.2%), financial constraints (44.4%), and a significant skills gap (72%). Current integration of AI into planning education and practice was found to be minimal, with only 4% perceiving its existence in academic curricula. This study concludes that while the potential of AI is widely acknowledged, its adoption is hampered by systemic challenges. The study recommends a comprehensive curriculum reform, targeted infrastructural investment, and the development of supportive policy frameworks to facilitate the effective integration of AI into urban planning for sustainable development in South-East, Nigeria.