This Urban development has been an essential aspect of modern civilization. However, some cities’ urban design has led to significant negative impacts on their population. In this blog, we will explore some of the worst metropolitan development cities in the world. We will also discuss how artificial intelligence can play a role in improving urban development in the future.
Examples of Bad Urban Design Cities and Their Impacts
We have listed here cities with the worst urban development in the world. It is impressive how this aspect of cities can affect the life quality.
Dhaka, Bangladesh
Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, is facing significant challenges related to urban development in many aspects. With a population of over 21 million people, Dhaka is one of the most densely populated cities in the world, leading to overcrowding and poor living conditions.
The city’s rapid urbanization has led to the development of informal settlements and a lack of basic services such as sanitation and clean water.
One of the most significant challenges facing Dhaka is its transportation system. The city’s roads are congested, leading to long commutes and frequent traffic accidents. The public transportation system, which consists mainly of privately owned buses and rickshaws, is inadequate and unreliable, causing significant hardship for residents.
Additionally, the city lacks a proper metro system, leading to further congestion on the roads.
The lack of proper infrastructure and planning has resulted in environmental degradation in Dhaka. The city’s wetlands, which were once critical to its ecological balance, have been destroyed due to rapid urbanization and development. This has led to flooding and erosion, exacerbating the city’s infrastructure challenges. Additionally, the city has one of the highest levels of air pollution in Asia due in part to the high number of vehicles on the road, the use of generators for electricity, and the burning of waste.
Dhaka also faces widespread poverty, with many residents living in informal settlements and lacking access to basic services such as healthcare and education; settlements are often overcrowded, lack proper sanitation, and are prone to disease outbreaks. The high level of poverty has also contributed to high levels of crime and insecurity in the city.
Despite these challenges, there have been efforts to improve urban development in Dhaka. The government has launched several initiatives to improve infrastructure and transportation, including the construction of new roads, bridges, and transportation hubs. Additionally, the government has implemented policies to promote sustainable development, such as the establishment of parks and green spaces throughout the city.
However, much more needs to be done to address the challenges of urban development in Dhaka. The government needs to invest in upgrading the city’s infrastructure and transportation systems to ease congestion and reduce the city’s environmental footprint. Additionally, there needs to be a focus on improving access to basic services such as healthcare and education for all residents. By addressing these challenges, Dhaka can become a more livable and sustainable city for its residents.
Lagos, Nigeria
Lagos is one of Africa’s largest cities and Nigeria’s economic hubs. With a population of over 14 million people, Lagos is grappling with inadequate infrastructure, environmental degradation, and widespread poverty. The city’s rapid urbanization has led to overcrowding, informal settlements, and an inefficient transportation system.
One of the most significant challenges facing Lagos is its transportation system. The city’s roads are congested and poorly maintained, leading to long commutes and frequent accidents. The public transportation system, which consists primarily of privately owned buses and mini-buses, is inadequate and unreliable, causing significant hardship for residents. Lagos’s light rail system, which was designed to ease congestion and improve transportation, has faced several delays and is yet to be fully operational.
The lack of proper infrastructure and planning has resulted in environmental degradation in Lagos. The city’s wetlands, which were once critical to its ecological balance, have been destroyed due to rapid urbanization and development. This has led to flooding and erosion, exacerbating the city’s infrastructure challenges. Additionally, the city has one of the highest levels of air pollution in Africa due in part to the high number of vehicles on the road. Lagos uses generators for electricity and the burning of waste.
Lagos also faces widespread poverty, with many residents living in informal settlements and lacking access to basic services such as healthcare and education. These settlements are often overcrowded, lack proper sanitation, and are prone to disease outbreaks. The high level of poverty has also contributed to high levels of crime and insecurity in the city.
Despite these challenges, there have been efforts to improve urban development in Lagos. The Lagos State Government has launched several initiatives to improve infrastructure and transportation, including the construction of new roads, bridges, and transportation hubs. Additionally, the government has implemented policies to promote sustainable development, such as the establishment of parks and green spaces throughout the city.
However, much more needs to be done to address the challenges of urban development in Lagos. The government needs to invest in upgrading the city’s infrastructure and transportation systems to ease congestion and reduce the city’s environmental footprint. Additionally, there needs to be a focus on improving access to basic services such as healthcare and education for all residents. By addressing these challenges, Lagos can become a more livable and sustainable city for its residents.
Mexico City, Mexico
One of the most pressing issues in Mexico City is severe traffic congestion, which is caused by a combination of the high number of cars on the road, lack of public transportation options, and inadequate road infrastructure. The city’s public transportation system, including the metro and buses, is overcrowded, resulting in longer travel times for commuters. The congestion has also contributed to widespread air pollution, with the city having some of the highest levels of pollution in the world. The city has implemented several measures to reduce pollution, including the implementation of the “Hoy No Circula” program, which restricts the use of private vehicles based on license plate numbers.
Another significant challenge in Mexico City is the inadequate infrastructure, particularly in low-income neighborhoods. Many residents do not have access to clean water, and the city’s electrical grid is unreliable, leading to frequent power outages. The lack of proper sanitation has resulted in a proliferation of diseases, including cholera and dengue fever. Additionally, many buildings in Mexico City are not up to seismic standards, making them vulnerable to earthquakes.
Mexico City has struggled with widespread poverty, with many residents living in informal settlements and lacking access to basic services. The high level of poverty has resulted in a high crime rate, making the city one of the most dangerous in the world. The city has implemented several measures to address crime, including the establishment of a specialized police force for tourists and the deployment of surveillance cameras in high-crime areas.
Despite these challenges, there have been efforts to improve the city’s infrastructure and transportation systems. The city has launched several initiatives aimed at upgrading the public transportation system. Part of the improvement included the construction of a new metro line and the expansion of the bike-sharing program. Additionally, there have been efforts to promote sustainable development practices, such as the implementation of green roofs and the establishment of parks and green spaces throughout the city.
The government needs to invest in upgrading the city’s infrastructure and providing basic services to all residents, regardless of income. Additionally, there needs to be a focus on promoting sustainable development practices that reduce pollution and protect the environment. By addressing these challenges, Mexico City can become a more livable and sustainable city for its residents.
Kolkata, India
Kolkata, formerly known as Calcutta, is a city in eastern India that has a rich cultural history. This city is known for its colonial architecture, vibrant street food, and bustling markets. However, the city has also faced significant challenges related to urban development, which have had negative impacts on its population.
One of the most pressing issues in Kolkata is traffic congestion, which has been caused by the city’s poor road infrastructure and the high number of vehicles on the roads. Traffic congestion is a major problem for residents, making it difficult for them to commute to work, access healthcare, and engage in social activities. The pollution resulting from the congestion has also been a significant issue, with the city having some of the highest levels of air pollution in the world.
Another challenge in Kolkata is the inadequate infrastructure, particularly in areas such as water supply and sanitation. Many residents do not have access to clean water, and the lack of proper sanitation has resulted in a high incidence of water-borne diseases. The city has also struggled to provide basic services such as electricity and waste management to its residents.
Despite these challenges, there have been efforts by the government to improve the city’s infrastructure and transportation systems. Kolkata Metro is the oldest metro system in India and has been expanded in recent years. The expansion provided an efficient means of transportation for residents. The city has also launched several initiatives aimed at improving waste management and reducing pollution.
The government needs to invest in upgrading the city’s infrastructure and transportation systems and providing basic services such as water and electricity to its residents. Additionally, there needs to be a focus on promoting sustainable development practices that reduce pollution and protect the environment. By addressing these challenges, Kolkata can become a more livable and sustainable city of its residents.
Caracas, Venezuela
Caracas, the capital city of Venezuela, is facing significant challenges related to urban development. With a population of more than 2 million people, the city’s urban design has led to severe traffic congestion, inadequate infrastructure, and widespread poverty. The lack of proper planning and management has resulted in many neighborhoods lacking basic services. Vital services such as water, electricity, and sanitation make it difficult for residents to live healthy lives.
One of the most pressing issues in Caracas is the severe traffic congestion, which has made it challenging for residents to move around the city. The road infrastructure is inadequate, and the city’s public transportation system is inefficient, resulting in longer travel times for commuters. The congestion has also contributed to widespread pollution, with the city having some of the highest levels of air pollution in Latin America.
Another significant challenge in Caracas is the inadequate infrastructure, particularly in low-income neighborhoods. Many residents do not have access to clean water, and the city’s electrical grid is unreliable. The electrical system defects lead to frequent power outages. The lack of proper sanitation has resulted in a proliferation of diseases, including cholera and dengue fever.
Additionally, Caracas has struggled with widespread poverty, with many residents living in informal settlements and lacking access to basic services. The high level of poverty has resulted in a high crime rate. The high level of poverty makes the city one of the most dangerous in the world.
Despite these challenges, there have been efforts to improve the city’s infrastructure and transportation systems. For example, the government has launched several initiatives aimed at upgrading the city’s public transportation system. One initiative includes the construction of a new metro line. The city has also implemented measures to reduce pollution, such as restricting the use of private vehicles on certain days.
The government needs to invest in upgrading the city’s infrastructure and providing basic services to all residents, regardless of income. Additionally, there needs to be a focus on promoting sustainable development practices that reduce pollution and protect the environment. By addressing these challenges, Caracas can become a more livable and sustainable city for its residents.
The Role of AI in Improving Urban Development
Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to revolutionize urban development in the future, providing numerous benefits to residents. Some of the ways in which AI can help include:
Predictive Analysis
By analyzing urban development patterns, AI can help city planners make better decisions related to infrastructure and resource allocation. This can help identify potential issues before they occur, such as high-traffic areas, and suggest solutions to mitigate them.
Traffic Management
AI can help improve traffic management by monitoring traffic patterns and identifying areas of congestion that are likely to occur. Other important tasks that can realize are adjusting traffic signals, reducing congestion, and making commuting easier for residents.
Environmental Monitoring
AI can help monitor environmental pollution levels, such as air and water pollution. Some algorithms will identify areas where pollution is high and use these results to develop targeted solutions to improve health.
Disaster Management
Algorithms of AI will identify areas where people may be trapped in case of earthquakes and floods. The Automatic algorithms of AI will provide information to first responders and help save lives during natural disasters.
Cities such as Dhaka and Lagos have had a significant negative impact on their populations. Overcrowding, traffic congestion, pollution, and a lack of proper sanitation are some results.
With AI solutions, urban development can be improved. The complex operation of improving urban design and a cleaner environment could be accelerated by Artificial Intelligence. It is crucial for city planners to invest in AI technology and use it effectively to address complex challenges.
