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Digital Twin for Urban Planning in the Green Deal Era: A State of the Art and Future Perspectives

Author

Listed:
  • Giorgio Caprari

    (School of Architecture and Design, University of Camerino, 63100 Ascoli Piceno, Italy)

  • Giordana Castelli

    (Department of Engineering, ICT and Technologies for Energy and Transport (DIITET), Research National Council (CNR), 00185 Rome, Italy)

  • Marco Montuori

    (Institute of Complex Systems (ISC), Research National Council (CNR), 00185 Rome, Italy)

  • Marialucia Camardelli

    (School of Architecture and Design, University of Camerino, 63100 Ascoli Piceno, Italy)

  • Roberto Malvezzi

    (Department of Engineering, ICT and Technologies for Energy and Transport (DIITET), Research National Council (CNR), 00185 Rome, Italy)

Abstract

This paper provides a state of the art of contemporary Digital Twins (DTs) projects for urban planning at an international level. The contribution investigates the evolution of the DT concept and contextualises this tool within the scientific-cultural debate, highlighting the interconnection between global policies and local needs/wishes. Specifically, six case studies of DTs are compared, illustrating their application, content, technological infrastructure, and priority results. The projects presented provide an overview of the existing DT typologies, focusing on the evaluative/prefigurative use and the limits/potential of the tool in light of the socio-health, climate, and environmental crises. Reflections on DT reveal, on the one hand, its potential role in supporting decision-making and participatory processes and, on the other, the potential utopian trend of data-driven planning encouraged by public–private investments in the smart city/twin city sector. In conclusion, the study underlines the innovative role of DT as a cutting-edge scientific format in the disciplinary framework but highlights that the practical use of the tool is still in an experimental research-action phase. From this theoretical-critical review, it is possible to hypothesise new research paths to implement the realism and application potential of DTs for urban planning and urban governance.

Suggested Citation

  • Giorgio Caprari & Giordana Castelli & Marco Montuori & Marialucia Camardelli & Roberto Malvezzi, 2022. "Digital Twin for Urban Planning in the Green Deal Era: A State of the Art and Future Perspectives," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-16, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:10:p:6263-:d:820381
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Fabian Dembski & Uwe Wössner & Mike Letzgus & Michael Ruddat & Claudia Yamu, 2020. "Urban Digital Twins for Smart Cities and Citizens: The Case Study of Herrenberg, Germany," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-17, March.
    2. Ehab Shahat & Chang T. Hyun & Chunho Yeom, 2021. "City Digital Twin Potentials: A Review and Research Agenda," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-20, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Osama Omar, 2025. "Digital Twins for Climate-Responsive Urban Development: Integrating Zero-Energy Buildings into Smart City Strategies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(15), pages 1-18, July.
    2. Justyna Lemke & Tomasz Dudek & Artur Kujawski & Tygran Dzhuguryan, 2025. "Evaluation of Urban Transport Quality Management Based on Crowdsourcing Data for the Implementation of Municipal Energy and Resource Conservation Policies," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(19), pages 1-20, October.
    3. Haraguchi, Masahiko & Funahashi, Tomomi & Biljecki, Filip, 2024. "Assessing governance implications of city digital twin technology: A maturity model approach," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 204(C).
    4. Fernando Almeida, 2023. "Prospects of Cybersecurity in Smart Cities," Future Internet, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-21, August.
    5. Ioannis Kavouras & Emmanuel Sardis & Eftychios Protopapadakis & Ioannis Rallis & Anastasios Doulamis & Nikolaos Doulamis, 2023. "A Low-Cost Gamified Urban Planning Methodology Enhanced with Co-Creation and Participatory Approaches," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-27, January.

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