Urban Analytics Portal

Urban analytics – from understanding data to developing insights. Explore our portal to better understand cities.

We use an evidence-based approach to identify and articulate key and underlying issues in cities. Some of our major works that demonstrate this are the Kuala Lumpur Creative and Cultural District (KLCCD): Strategic Master Plan and George Town World Heritage Site (GTWHS): Population and Land Use Change.

Should you wish to use any of the materials on our portal, please contact us for prior approval.

Last Updated: 18 November 2021

A City in Transition

George Town World Heritage Site
George Town World Heritage Site

This interactive storymap represents Think City and its partners’ extensive, decadelong endeavour to monitor and understand the socio-cultural and economic changes of the George Town World Heritage Site (2009 to 2019). It details the key highlights and recommendations of the heritage city’s recent census report, and the importance of data in developing targeted responses for policymakers.

Land Surface Temperature

Kuala Lumpur City Centre
Kuala Lumpur City Centre

Urbanisation is known to increase the effects of urban heat island (UHI). This map illustrates the 30-year difference between KLCC’s LST observations from 1989 and 2019. The map can provide insights for urban strategists on how cities can become climate-adaptable through nature-based solutions.

George Town
George Town

The George Town map illustrates the 32-year difference of the town’s LST observations from 1988 and 2020. George Town recorded one of the highest increases in surface temperature considering its popularity since its 2008’s World Heritage Site inscription.

Bayan Lepas
Bayan Lepas

Bayan Lepas significant rise in temperature relates to the growth of its industries and urbanisation in the nation’s first Free Trade Zone. This map illustrates the 32-year difference between Bayan Lepas’ surface temperature observations from 1988 and 2020.

Johor Bahru District
Johor Bahru District

Johor Bahru District’s map shows a substantial 13-year change between its LST measurements from 2005 and 2018. This map can provide insights for urban researchers on the district’s rapid gentrification, and increased economic corridors and number of industries that have contributed to the temperature rise.

Ipoh City
Ipoh City

This map of Ipoh illustrates the 21-year difference between Ipoh’s LST observations from 1998 and 2019. Ipoh shows extreme levels of ecological change and urbanisation which projects unsustainable ecosystem that can affect overall human livelihood and well-being.

Impacts of COVID-19

Nitrogen Dioxide Levels Decrease Due to MCO
Nitrogen Dioxide Levels Decrease Due to MCO

The nitrogen dioxide maps shows that air pollution has been falling sharply in Malaysia over the lockdown period. This prompted high schools in Malaysia and Hungary to initiate a digital collaborative educational event on air pollution.

COVID-19 Crisis: Atlas of Community Resilience
COVID-19 Crisis: Atlas of Community Resilience

This interactive map visualises the potential social, economic, and health impacts of COVID-19 on Malaysia, particularly on vulnerable areas and groups. Now is the time to act and strengthen our community’s resilience.

COVID-19 Movement Control Order (MCO) Effect on Kuala Lumpur City Centre
COVID-19 Movement Control Order (MCO) Effect on Kuala Lumpur City Centre

As the Covid-19 Movement Control Order (MCO) is in effect, we examine its effects on traffic. This map illustrates the traffic flow within the KL City Centre before and during the MCO. The disruption has brought dramatic change to daily life.

Demography

Demographics of KLCCD
Demographics of KLCCD

The demographics of the KLCCD map provides an overview of observable demographic trends and urban economies in the area. The employment and population densities in this map represent the concentration of the number of jobs and residents per hectare.

Demographics of GTWHS (Population)
Demographics of GTWHS (Population)

Collated from Think City’s GTWHS 2009 and 2013 census studies, this map illustrates the change in the site’s population density over the four years following the 2008 World Heritage Site listing.

Demographics of GTWHS (Employment)
Demographics of GTWHS (Employment)

Collated from Think City’s GTWHS 2009 and 2013 census studies, this map illustrates the change in the site’s employment density over the four years following the 2008 World Heritage Site listing.

Demographics of JB
Demographics of JB

Extracted using similar methodology adopted in the GTWHS census, this map illustrates the employment and population densities of Downtown Johor Bahru in 2016. These statistical visualisations can help government bodies and society to better understand JB’s demographic patterns.

Building Use

Downtown Kuala Lumpur
Downtown Kuala Lumpur

The Downtown Kuala Lumpur map illustrates the general land use, as surveyed by DBKL and building land use, by Think City. This map is useful for planning bodies to monitor on-going land use activity. It provides an indispensable resource in land use management.

George Town World Heritage Site
George Town World Heritage Site

A joint collaboration with GTWHI and JPBD, Think City’s land use census captures every business, resident, association, education institute, government agency, street stall/market vendor and vacancy in the World Heritage Site.

Downtown Johor Bahru
Downtown Johor Bahru

Downtown Johor Bahru map shows the general land use of the Johor Bahru district, as surveyed by MBJB and building land use, by Think City. This map can help planning bodies to monitor Johor Bahru’s on-going land use activity - providing a necessary resource in land use management.

Building Typology

Categories of Heritage Buildings
Categories of Heritage Buildings

This map illustrates the categorical collation of heritage buildings officially recognized by Jabatan Warisan Negara and DBKL. This can help inform local and foreign visitors about where the heritage buildings are in the city.

Architecture of KLCCD
Architecture of KLCCD

Buildings with traditional styles make up 51% of all the buildings in the KLCCD, where typologies of traditional shophouses dominate.

Creative and Cultural Industries

Greater Kuala Lumpur
Greater Kuala Lumpur

The Greater Kuala Lumpur map illustrates the concentration of existing creative industries and cultural services across Kuala Lumpur. This shows the strengths and potential of Downtown KL.

Creative Industries and Cultural Services
Creative Industries and Cultural Services

This map illustrates the locations of creative and cultural hubs by category (e.g. art centres advertising firms, galleries, and museums) within the KLCCD and its surroundings - a list of existing heritage assets, cultural attractions and creative enterprises that would benefit the general public.

Safety Assessment

Safe Walk of KLCCD
Safe Walk of KLCCD

This map illustrates the walkability and overall comfort of pedestrian walkways throughout the day and night within the KLCCD. It may assist local councils and placemaking actors in creating solutions for improving the perceptions of safety and seemingly ‘bad’ areas in the city.