What is a key takeaway regarding data-driven design?

• A. Rely on intuition and past experience.
• B. Use GIS and modeling to prove your design's performance.
• C. Ignore data and proceed.
• D. Focus only on aesthetic aspects.

Answer: (B)

Data-driven design centers on making decisions grounded in evidence rather than gut feeling. Using GIS and modeling lets you collect spatial data, simulate how a design would perform, and quantify outcomes. This enables you to compare different layouts, forecast performance under various scenarios, and show why a particular option is favored based on measurable criteria. It helps ensure decisions meet real objectives like efficiency, accessibility, and environmental impact, not just how things look.

Relying on intuition may be informed by experience, but it lacks systematic evidence. Ignoring data leads to untested choices, and focusing only on aesthetics overlooks performance and measurable results.