The city challenges and the new frontiers of urban planning. Digital twins as tools of urban resilience: research and practices

The exponential growth of the world population must deal with the limitedness of the planet and its resources. The challenge is even more difficult as by 2050 two-thirds of the world’s population will live in cities, urban ecosystems are becoming larger and more complex, and many other global challenges (climate, energy, health, ecological) require innovative answers in a very short time, with an integrated approach and in a medium-long and wide-ranging vision. Within this complex framework: a multiple transition (digital, ecological, energy) is undelayable; the way of planning, designing, and managing cities is going through a phase of deep change; a new culture is emerging and spreading to improve informed and data-driven decision making. Therefore, the article addresses the potential of new technologies, yet to be adequately explored in the fields of planning and design at different territorial scales, for better governance, sustainable development and quality habitats. It consists of three main sections, consistent with the methodology and the main steps of the ongoing research to which it refers. The first section focused on global challenges and on the potential of new technologies to make cities and territories more resilient and sustainable, in line with SDG 11 of UN 2030 Agenda. The second section addresses the theoretical aspects and implementation regarding the concept of urban resilience and the role of new digital technologies with reference to significant case studies in the EU panorama. The third and final section contains some concluding remarks on the limits and prospects of research for urban planning, territorial governance and management.