Cities are systems of tremendous, ever-evolving complexity. Responsibly guiding an area’s development requires spatial information that’s robust, nuanced and constantly updated, as well as the problem-solving skills to apply that information. This challenge has made geographic information science and technology (GIST) invaluable to urban planners. Spatial data leads the way to improving quality of life and building sustainability. GIS professionals use spatial thinking to transform that data into actionable insight and solutions. WHAT IS GIS USED FOR IN URBAN PLANNING? One of the reasons why GIS is important in urban planning is the ability to better understand current needs for a city. We can design the city or alter the current to fulfil those needs. On processing geospatial data from satellite imaging, aerial photography and remote sensors, users gain a detailed perspective on land use and infrastructure. As urban populations grow , the importance of GIS lies in its ability to handle the vast amounts of information necessary to balance competing priorities and solve complicated problems, such as optimizing new building placement or determining the feasibility of a waste disposal site.