Use of Competitive Intelligence methods for trend analysis in spatial planning

This diploma thesis focuses on the use of Competitive Intelligence in the spatial planning domain. In recent times, spatial planning has come to the forefront of public interest due to ongoing digitalization and increased public concern about the state of surrounding environment, and it therefore makes sense to research it further from the perspective of data and information technologies. Despite its importance, spatial planning in the Czech Republic continues to face significant issues, ranging from the lack of cohesive, accessible sources of data to the lack of modern, useful tools that could be used in the spatial planning domain. The aforementioned problems help shape the objectives of this thesis. The primary objective of this thesis is to obtain a new, comprehensive view of the spatial planning domain and its evolving trends. This is achieved through fulfilling a set of secondary objectives, including the identification of trends and problems in relation to a specific area and their association to the socio-economic indicators. An analytical tool, combining elements of traditional analysis, automation, and the use of large language models for natural language processing, is created to satisfy the objectives. This tool is then used to perform an analysis based on the Competitive Intelligence principles, aiming to provide outputs corresponding with the previously defined goals. Ultimately, the thesis aspires to offer a novel approach that may benefit multiple actors present in the spatial planning domain. These might include private companies, municipalities, but also engaged citizens with an interest in the given area.