Spatial analysis as a part of design loop

Our biggest ambition is to create a product which allows urban practitioners to integrate analysis of future project effects to their daily practice, turning analysis into a natural part of a design process at early project stages. 

Urban Calculator allows for early assessment in the starting phase of a project, when the critical decisions are made and when design changes are more feasible and less costly (CURT, 2004).  There is consensus that the further a project develops the harder and more expensive design revisions and improvements are. For instance, the analysis provides timely insights whether a new bridge increases pedestrian accessibility to healthcare or public transport and reduces current inequalities in access.

Current alternative analysis tools in the urban development field are not well integrated in the design process, require 1-2 months of data preparation and separate research expertise to conduct the analysis. Due to all these factors, the analysis of possible project effects is often not performed at all or conducted at the later project stages when changes are already hard to make.

Urban Calculator changes the way designers work, allowing them to integrate analytic tools early in their design process and, make informed design choices based on spatial analysis. Such early and timely scenario analysis and assessment is critical for the success and sustainability of a development project.