Planning software ArcGIS Urban

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Overview
ArcGIS Urban is collaborative, data-driven urban planning and development software for planners, architects and local authorities to evaluate zoning, land‑use and development scenarios with 3D visualizations and urban analytics. It supports assessment of housing, climate resilience and economic impacts, and facilitates stakeholder engagement across project lifecycles.

Key capabilities

• 3D scenario modeling: design and visualize development proposals within a city digital twin context using pre-built buildings and trees.
• Data-driven analysis: apply predefined space uses, building types and KPIs to quantify policy and development impacts with charts and maps.
• Project e-submission and tracking: manage submissions, integrate permitting data and streamline review workflows.
• Collaborative tools: collect online feedback, run consultations and communicate proposals with accessible visualizations and metrics.
• Extendability and integrations: APIs for ArcGIS products and third-party systems; supports BIM, external 3D content and immersive XR exploration.

What you can do with ArcGIS Urban

• Compare multiple zoning and land‑use scenarios using 3D visualizations and urban analytics to inform design and policy decisions.
• Analyze housing supply, market‑rate vs affordable housing and planning metrics relevant to masterplans and redevelopment projects.
• Integrate BIM models, external 3D content and permitting datasets to support coordinated project review and approvals.
• Centralize zoning rules as a system of record to manage regulations, track amendments and visualize spatial effects.
• Monitor development impacts with out‑of‑the‑box metrics (population, jobs, energy estimates, yields).

How it works
ArcGIS Urban provides a planning‑focused layer of a city digital twin. The application includes base 3D assets so users can begin modeling quickly and then link organizational GIS, BIM and permit data for deeper analysis. Scenario modeling, analytics and collaboration features support evidence‑based decision making and stakeholder consultation.

Typical workflows and benefits

• Design in context: assess massing, envelopes and proposals within the existing urban fabric to evaluate neighborhood impacts.
• Policy testing: simulate zoning or policy changes and quantify outcomes with standardized metrics.
• Public engagement: present clear visualizations and gather feedback to increase transparency and consensus.
• Operational efficiency: reduce review cycles by integrating e‑submissions, permits and a shared planning record.

Included / licensing note
ArcGIS Urban capabilities are delivered as part of ArcGIS user types. The application is included within ArcGIS and should be provisioned to organizational roles via user type assignments.

Features / Technical specifications

• Product type: cloud-enabled urban planning and development application (ArcGIS platform).
• 3D: full 3D scenario modeling with pre-built buildings and trees, transparent envelopes and massing visualizations.
• Data integration: connects to GIS, supports BIM and external 3D content ingestion, integrates permitting and enterprise datasets.
• Analytics: ready-to-use space uses, building types, KPIs, charts and maps for impact assessment (population, jobs, energy estimates, yields).
• Collaboration: stakeholder engagement tools, online feedback and project e-submission workflows.
• Extendability: APIs for ArcGIS and third-party systems; supports immersive XR for scenario exploration.
• Deployment: cloud SaaS as part of ArcGIS, integrates with ArcGIS Enterprise and ArcGIS Online user types.
• Digital twin support: planning-focused layer for city/town digital twins; can operate without local 3D source data using supplied assets.