UrbanMetry uses AI and geospatial data to provide insights for urban planning, property markets, and sustainable city development.
URBANMETRY is a data analytics company based in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia, founded in 2014. The company specialises in harvesting, cleaning, and analysing large volumes of geospatial data using artificial intelligence (AI) and proprietary algorithms to extract trends and patterns in the built environment. Their main goal is to improve city planning, create a more transparent property market, and support sustainable urban development.
The company provides services to both public and private sectors, offering insights on urban dynamics, land-use patterns, and market intelligence. URBANMETRY helps developers, banks, governments, retailers, and transport operators with critical data-driven decisions regarding urban growth, land deals, business strategies, and policy-making. Their technology includes big data analytics, AI, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS), enabling clients to better understand supply and demand, property prices, and market trends.
One of their main products is property market intelligence, which includes micro-neighbourhood supply and demand analysis, pricing, and competitor assessments. Additionally, they provide geospatial and behavioural analytics, branch location analysis, and trend tracking, such as monitoring lifestyle patterns to forecast property market shifts.
URBANMETRY has worked with high-profile clients such as Sime Darby Property, the World Bank Group, RHB Group, and Hong Leong Bank, among others. They have also published "The Secret Atlas of Greater Kuala Lumpur," a book in collaboration with ThinkCity, which introduces their data insights to the broader market.
By combining AI, big data, and GIS, URBANMETRY helps clients make evidence-based decisions that drive urban planning and policy. Their work is focused on shaping sustainable cities and contributing to improved socio-economic development in Malaysia and the Southeast Asia region.
URBANMETRY was founded in 2014 in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia, by Cha-Ly Koh with the aim of providing data analytics solutions to help cities and governments make informed decisions. The company started with a vision to leverage the power of geospatial data and artificial intelligence (AI) to transform urban planning and governance. In its early years, URBANMETRY focused on collecting, cleaning, and analysing vast amounts of data, applying proprietary algorithms and AI to uncover patterns in the built environment.
From its inception, the company aimed to fill a gap in the market by offering property market intelligence and urban dynamics insights to both public and private sectors. As the company grew, it developed key technologies in big data analytics, AI, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS), allowing it to provide actionable intelligence for urban planning, market analysis, and policy-making.
By 2017, URBANMETRY had gained recognition for its capabilities in urban analytics, leading to its collaboration with ThinkCity, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Khazanah Nasional, Malaysia’s sovereign wealth fund. This partnership resulted in the publication of "The Secret Atlas of Greater Kuala Lumpur," a book that introduced the company’s data-driven insights to the broader market. This was a significant milestone for URBANMETRY, as thousands of copies were circulated, expanding their influence and exposure.
As the company continued to grow, it worked with various high-profile clients, including Sime Darby Property, the World Bank Group, Hong Leong Bank, and RHB Group. URBANMETRY’s services expanded to cover areas such as micro-neighbourhood supply and demand analysis, pricing, competitor analysis, geospatial analytics, and behavioural insights. This broadening of its product offerings further established the company as a leader in the field of urban analytics.
By 2023, URBANMETRY had made significant strides in transforming urban planning and property markets through its technology. It had become a key player in the Southeast Asian region, with its solutions used by businesses, governments, and developers to make evidence-based decisions. The company’s work gained further recognition when it was awarded the title of a "Technology Pioneer" by the World Economic Forum in 2023, the only Malaysian company to receive the honour that year.
Today, URBANMETRY continues to focus on using AI, big data, and GIS to provide insights into urban dynamics, land-use patterns, and developments. The company aims to shape sustainable cities and improve socio-economic outcomes in Malaysia and Southeast Asia. It remains committed to improving city planning, driving sustainable development, and making data-driven decisions an integral part of urban growth and governance.
URBANMETRY’s mission is to help cities, governments, and businesses make informed decisions by providing data-driven insights into urban dynamics, land-use patterns, and property markets. The company focuses on leveraging big data, artificial intelligence, and geospatial analytics to improve urban planning, enhance transparency in the property market, and support sustainable development. By offering reliable and timely data, URBANMETRY aims to drive better decision-making, reduce inefficiencies, and create smarter, more sustainable cities for future generations. The company seeks to empower stakeholders with the tools they need to build and manage cities effectively and responsibly.
URBANMETRY’s vision is to become the leading provider of urban analytics solutions in Southeast Asia, helping cities transform through data and technology. The company envisions a future where urban planning, property development, and governance are driven by accurate, real-time data. By using advanced AI and geospatial analytics, URBANMETRY aims to shape cities that are sustainable, resilient, and inclusive. The company believes in the power of data to solve complex urban challenges, from housing affordability to environmental sustainability, and is committed to making cities smarter and more liveable. Its vision is to help build better cities for all.
URBANMETRY offers a range of products and services that help businesses, governments, and developers make informed decisions based on accurate and timely data. These products and services use advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), big data analytics, and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to provide valuable insights into urban dynamics, property markets, and land-use patterns. Below is a detailed overview of their main products and services:
Market Intelligenc- URBANMETRY provides comprehensive market intelligence solutions, particularly focused on the property market. One of their key offerings is Supply and Demand Analysis, which provides detailed insights into the supply and demand dynamics of micro-neighbourhoods. This helps stakeholders understand where demand is growing, where supply is insufficient, and where property prices are likely to rise. The data is crucial for developers looking to invest in new areas, as it allows them to understand market trends and make informed investment decisions.
Another important aspect of market intelligence is Pricing and Competitor Analysis, which allows businesses to assess how their properties or products compare to others in the market. This analysis helps developers and investors make decisions about pricing strategies and evaluate the competitive landscape in specific regions. The service helps identify trends in pricing, competitor activity, and other market movements that could influence business strategies.
Geospatial and Behavioural Analytics -URBANMETRY uses advanced Geospatial Analytics to provide insights into urban environments. This involves collecting and analysing data related to location and geography to understand the dynamics of urban spaces. By examining spatial data, URBANMETRY helps stakeholders identify areas of growth, optimise land-use, and create efficient city plans. This data can also be used to monitor changes in the urban environment over time, providing valuable insights for long-term planning.
Behavioural Analytics is another key area, where URBANMETRY tracks and analyses population movement patterns, including weekday and weekend hotspots. Understanding how people move around a city, where they spend their time, and which areas are most popular helps businesses and governments make better decisions about where to invest, expand, or improve services. For example, by studying customer behaviour and mobility patterns, retail businesses can determine ideal locations for new stores.
Branch Location Analysis- URBANMETRY offers a unique Branch Location Analysis service, which helps businesses and organisations optimise their location strategy. Using the company’s proprietary TLS (Transaction Location Strategy) Framework, businesses can analyse the performance of existing branches and identify the best locations for future expansion. The service factors in market demand, accessibility, and competitive positioning, enabling businesses to make data-driven decisions about where to open new branches or retail outlets.
Urban Planning and Sustainability Assessments- As part of its urban planning services, URBANMETRY provides Sustainability Assessments. These assessments use data to evaluate the sustainability of a given area or development. This includes analysing environmental impacts, resource usage, and energy consumption, among other factors. The goal is to help businesses and governments plan urban developments that are not only economically viable but also environmentally responsible.
AI and Big Data Solutions- One of the core strengths of URBANMETRY is its use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Big Data to provide advanced analytics and insights. The company’s AI bots are used to gather data from previously uncharted territories, expanding the reach of their analytics. AI is also used to process and clean large datasets, ensuring that the information provided is accurate and reliable.
The use of Big Data allows URBANMETRY to aggregate complex and fragmented datasets, revealing hidden insights that would otherwise be missed. This data includes not only traditional property transaction data but also lifestyle indicators, demographic trends, and government policies. The combination of AI and Big Data ensures that URBANMETRY can provide accurate and up-to-date information that helps stakeholders make better decisions faster.
Trend Tracking- Another important service offered by URBANMETRY is Trend Tracking. The company uses data to track lifestyle trends that could impact the property market. For example, URBANMETRY has tracked the rise of artisan coffee shops and their impact on property values. The company’s data shows that the growth of high-end coffee shops is often a precursor to gentrification, resulting in higher property prices in those areas. By tracking such trends, URBANMETRY helps businesses anticipate market shifts and adjust their strategies accordingly.
Customised Solutions- In addition to these standard products and services, URBANMETRY offers customised solutions tailored to the specific needs of their clients. Whether it is for urban planning, investment analysis, policy-making, or product development, URBANMETRY works closely with its clients to provide data-driven insights that help them achieve their goals.
