(Yicai Global) Dec. 7 -- The map unit run by Baidu Inc. [NASDAQ:BIDU] has penned a deal with the China Academy of Urban Planning & Design, under which the pair will set up a laboratory and the latter will use the cartographer's Big Data for free in order to facilitate planning of the Xiong'an New Area.

The two held a signing ceremony in Beijing yesterday, announcing that the laboratory will conduct research into the dynamic monitoring and assessment of urbanization, the diagnosis, evaluation and simulation of urban planning. The pair will also set up a talent training platform, Chinese online news outlet The Paper reported.

Big Data can objectively track the growth of cities. Through the cooperation, both parties will be able to explore a new model of urban planning and contribute more to metropolitan development, said Li Dongmin, general manager of Baidu Map Business Unit.

Xiong'an New Area is a state-level region set up in April. It is located in Hebei province, around 100 kilometers southwest of Beijing. The central government hopes it will serve as a driving force for innovation and development in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. By offering its Big Data to the project for free, Baidu Map believes it can play a role in developing more new areas and creating a model for urban construction.