Urban Digital Twins (UDTs) represent a significant evolution in urban analytics, surpassing traditional 3D models to create dynamic virtual replicas of cities that support management, operations, and sustainability. To achieve the anticipated benefits of UDTs, there is a demand for shift from technical interpretations towards a more socio-technical perspective. UDTs offer mechanisms to engage citizens and various stakeholders, fulfilling the need for "citizen- centric" design. The key functionalities supporting this inclusion incorporate interactive platforms, Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) visualization tools to provide immersive user experiences. These platforms enable stakeholders to provide feedback, explore "what if" scenarios, and engage in co-creation for urban planning and policy design. Multiple developed case studies, illustrate the success of utilizing AR and Volunteered Geographic Information (VGI) to enhance dialogue, transparency and facilitate consensus-building among participants. Despite this potential, the implementation of UDTs remains constrained by persistent challenges, including the need to promote more inclusion of socio-economic components, address the complexity barrier for non-specialist users and formally embed UDT development into ongoing planning workflow. Consequently, fulfilling the potentials of UDTs demands continued research efforts focused on these areas to support the ideals of Augmented Urban Planning (AUP), ensuring UDTs become accurate, contextualized, and operationally integrated tools for resilient and inclusive urban futures.
Urban Digital Twin; An inclusive toolkit for a more participatory urban development / Hendy, J., Aragona, S., Arena, A., Bove, A., Ghiraldelli, M., Celani, P., Pelaggi, A., Centanaro, C., Costa, V., Campanini, F., Di Pietro, G., Montaldi, C., Felli, A., Marziali, E., Gammino, M., Peraz, A., Garau, C., Dastoum, M., Askarizad, R., Garramone, V., et al.. - 11:(2026), pp. 79-91. (Publicness: le sfide della dimensione pubblica nelle città e nei territori Milano 18-20 giugno 2025).
Urban Digital Twin; An inclusive toolkit for a more participatory urban development
JOHN HENDY;
2026-01-01
Abstract
Urban Digital Twins (UDTs) represent a significant evolution in urban analytics, surpassing traditional 3D models to create dynamic virtual replicas of cities that support management, operations, and sustainability. To achieve the anticipated benefits of UDTs, there is a demand for shift from technical interpretations towards a more socio-technical perspective. UDTs offer mechanisms to engage citizens and various stakeholders, fulfilling the need for "citizen- centric" design. The key functionalities supporting this inclusion incorporate interactive platforms, Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) visualization tools to provide immersive user experiences. These platforms enable stakeholders to provide feedback, explore "what if" scenarios, and engage in co-creation for urban planning and policy design. Multiple developed case studies, illustrate the success of utilizing AR and Volunteered Geographic Information (VGI) to enhance dialogue, transparency and facilitate consensus-building among participants. Despite this potential, the implementation of UDTs remains constrained by persistent challenges, including the need to promote more inclusion of socio-economic components, address the complexity barrier for non-specialist users and formally embed UDT development into ongoing planning workflow. Consequently, fulfilling the potentials of UDTs demands continued research efforts focused on these areas to support the ideals of Augmented Urban Planning (AUP), ensuring UDTs become accurate, contextualized, and operationally integrated tools for resilient and inclusive urban futures.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
