The Built & Human Environment Review, Volume 3, 2010 Review of modelling, visualisation and artificial intelligent methodologies for built environment applications Yusuf, S. A., Georgakis, P. and Nwagboso, C. Syed.yusuf@wlv.ac.uk, p.georgakis@wlv.ac.uk, c.nwagboso@wlv.ac.uk School of Engineering and the Built Environment, University of Wolverhampton, UK Abstract The potential use of information and communications technologies (ICT) and artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms in decision support systems is well understood in urban planning and regeneration. However, concerns have been raised while initiating efforts regarding regeneration planning within densely populated built environments incurring high level of socio-economic and environmental deprivation impacts from existing neighbourhood districts. With the advent of high speed internet technologies, improved graphical automation and sophisticated AI techniques, the domain of spatial assessment and optimization is now considered a major area of research. The aim of this paper is to provide a critical review of the current state of research towards the integration of various ICT and AI domains to assess the socio-economic and environmental impact of urban sprawl to built environment regeneration schemes. In doing so the paper also analyzes the socio-economic and environmental attributes that have been found to influence the sustainability and smart growth of urban planning and regeneration initiatives. Ultimately, the research presents an architectural framework for the development of a virtual urban regeneration simulator using integrated AI technologies. Keywords: Artificial Intelligence, Fuzzy Systems, Urban Regeneration, Built Environment, Urban Planning, Decision Support Systems Introduction Urban regeneration is regarded as a systematic reversal process of economic, social and physical decay (Adair et al., 1999). With the end of the industrial boom gained by the UK and other industrialized nations of the European Union (EU), the renewal of derelict, inner city areas has become an important aspect in urban planning. By the early 1990s, with the rapid decline of the industrial sector within the UK, vast stretches of land were left unsuitable for reuse. Improper waste disposal standards left a substantial portion of these brownfield lands almost impossible to recover for general public usage. The reclamations costs of such contaminated areas were so high that most of the owners abandoned these brownfields for good. The practice of land abandonment resulted in greenfield accumulation; eventually generating a new terminology now commonly known as “urban sprawl” (Newman and Kenworthy, 1999, p.59). Areas with high level of sprawl normally suffer from social, environmental, ecological and economic decline with high levels of crime, unemployment, poor health and little or no access to public services. Due to sparsely connected street and transport infrastructure, the sprawled areas have poor linkage between public service facilities and residential districts resulting into a high dependence on 12