What is one key benefit of using GIS in urban planning?

Improving decision-making with spatial analysis is a significant benefit of using GIS in urban planning. GIS tools allow planners to visualize, analyze, and interpret data in a spatial context, which is essential when making informed decisions about land use, transport systems, resource management, and community services. By integrating various datasets—such as demographics, environmental factors, and infrastructure—GIS enables planners to identify patterns, assess impacts, and explore different scenarios.

This capability can lead to more effective urban designs that cater to the needs of the community, promote sustainable development, and facilitate better collaboration among stakeholders. Spatial analysis also supports quantitative assessments, such as calculating distances, measuring areas, or performing suitability analyses, which enhances the rigor of planning efforts and provides a solid foundation for policy-making.

In contrast, other potential benefits like reducing the cost of printing maps, enhancing data security, and offering lower data storage requirements, while relevant, do not directly address the comprehensive decision-making capabilities that GIS provides in the context of urban planning.