IBM & SEforALL: Harnessing AI for Sustainable Urbanization

International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) and Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) have joined forces to launch AI-powered solutions aimed at promoting sustainable urbanization and addressing energy needs in developing regions. This collaboration, announced at the 29th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP29), highlights the potential of artificial intelligence in tackling global challenges.

The partnership has resulted in two innovative projects: Open Building Insights (OBI) and Modeling Urban Growth (MUG). OBI is an interactive online platform that visually consolidates data related to buildings in urban areas, providing information such as location, height, footprint area, and usage type. This platform enables stakeholders to make informed decisions about sustainable urban development and energy planning. MUG, on the other hand, is an open-source AI model designed to predict where cities will grow, helping decision-makers map future urbanization and associated infrastructure needs.



The IBM model within OBI uses building-specific data to categorize buildings as residential or non-residential, which is key to determining energy needs in urban areas. This categorization allows energy planners to tailor interventions to meet specific energy demands, benefiting communities and promoting sustainable urban development. In Kenya, for instance, the OBI platform has already helped Makueni County implement measures projected to benefit around 1,139,000 citizens by 2030.

The collaboration between IBM, SEforALL, and other organizations like the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and Open Energy Maps enhances the OBI tool's effectiveness. By integrating diverse data sources and AI models, the platform provides a comprehensive view of urban areas, enabling stakeholders to make informed decisions about sustainable urban development and energy planning.



MUG, currently trained on data from various African nations, is designed to be retrained by users for any country using publicly accessible data. This open-source model helps decision-makers prioritize communities and developing regions that need support for issues like electrification and energy services. As more African countries make public data accessible, the adoption and impact of MUG can be expected to grow, enabling better planning for urbanization and infrastructure needs.

The IBM-SEforALL partnership demonstrates the power of AI in addressing global challenges. By harnessing the potential of AI, these organizations are empowering decision-makers and policymakers to create more sustainable and resilient urban environments. As technology continues to evolve, the integration of AI in energy sector planning and evidence will go a long way in designing comprehensive solutions for many of the developmental challenges currently facing the Global South and its people.