Dr. Sadhana Manthapuri

Welcome to my research blog — a space where urban planning theory meets on-the-ground policy practice. I write about cities, development, AI, and governance through the lens of the Global South — drawing on my doctoral research at Virginia Tech, practitioner experience at the Detroit Mayor’s Office, and my work designing NavikaUrba, an AI platform for cities in the developing world. My essays are written for planners, policymakers, researchers, and anyone who believes that the ideas shaping our cities deserve more rigorous, honest, and globally informed attention. Whether you are here for urban economics, AI and governance, community violence intervention, or planning theory — you will find essays grounded in evidence, shaped by practice, and written with the cities that matter most firmly in mind.