DIGITAL MAPPING AND DATA-DRIVEN URBAN PLANNING FOR RAPIDLY GROWING CITIES

This article explores the role of digital mapping and data-driven urban planning in addressing the challenges faced by rapidly growing cities, particularly in developing countries. As urban populations expand at unprecedented rates, traditional planning methods often fail to respond effectively to issues such as congestion, informal settlements, infrastructure deficits, environmental degradation, and inefficient land use.The paper examines how tools such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS), remote sensing, urban data analytics, and smart city platforms enable planners to make informed, evidence-based decisions. It highlights how real-time data and spatial analysis improve land-use planning, transportation networks, flood risk management, housing distribution, and service delivery.