Trend Report Panel Discussion (21 May): Operating smarter: using digital twins and AI to reshape urban infrastructure management

Discover how AI-powered digital twins are transforming urban infrastructure and how these innovations can improve efficiency, resilience, and sustainability.

OnDemand Webinar: Preparing for AI - understanding the data groundwork with Sunderland

Discover how Sunderland is turning a strong, city‑wide data foundation into real‑world impact by using secure, scalable AI to transform planning, services, and community outcomes.

SmartCitiesWorld Summit 2026: connecting climate action, resilience and urban innovation

As cities confront the combined pressures of climate change, infrastructure resilience and digital transformation, the SmartCitiesWorld Summit 2026 will bring together urban leaders and partners during London Climate Action Week to explore how these agendas intersect – and how cities can translate strategy into practical action.

A clean and efficient future: energy in focus at Cities Climate Action Summit 2024

Discover how this year’s Cities Climate Action Summit puts the spotlight on the switch to clean and renewable energy, and the importance of energy-efficiency.

Smart Cities Reports

Podcasts

Urban Exchange Podcast Episode 32 – Flood and energy resilience in Quezon City

Tune in for the latest Urban Exchange where we get a first-hand account of city resilience measures from Quezon City following unexpected extreme rainfall.

Urban Exchange Podcast Episode 30 – Norfolk: building coastal resilience before the storm

Blending green and grey infrastructure with innovative solutions like 3D printed reefs, discover how the City of Norfolk is tackling its coastal challenges head on.

Opinions

Rebuilding green: Analysing the Biden infrastructure plan

John Fitzgerald, Project Director, Linesight, explains why major reskilling, outreach work by government and the right messaging will be key to realising benefits.

The future of smart city technologySponsored by Huawei

Imagination and vision is required to enable successful digital transformation in our cities, writes Huawei’s Nadim Abdulrahim.

22 - 26 June 2026: Find out more

Latest City Profile

SmartCitiesWorld City Profile – Sunderland

Smart Cities Reports

Find out how Sunderland is repositioning itself as a leading smart city – using digital infrastructure and low-carbon innovation to build a resilient, future-focused economy in the latest SmartCitiesWorld City Profile.

Latest Trend Report

Trend Report: Planning and operating thriving cities – innovation for smarter urban living

Trend Series

Download our latest report to uncover how artificial intelligence is being used to support cities in how they plan and operate city services to ensure they are vibrant, sustainable and economically thriving modern spaces.

Latest Webinar

Trend Report Panel Discussion (21 May): Operating smarter: using digital twins and AI to reshape urban infrastructure management

Webinars

Discover how AI-powered digital twins are transforming urban infrastructure and how these innovations can improve efficiency, resilience, and sustainability.

Latest Podcast

Cities Thriving on Lighting, Episode 2 – Simplicity by design in smart lighting

Podcasts

Discover the technology and considerations behind how cities can turn existing streetlight networks into secure, interoperable, and future‑proof infrastructure in the second episode of Cities Thriving on Lighting.

Latest Urban Exchange Podcast

Urban Exchange Podcast Episode 32 – Flood and energy resilience in Quezon City

Urban Exchange Podcast

Tune in for the latest Urban Exchange where we get a first-hand account of city resilience measures from Quezon City following unexpected extreme rainfall.

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Home | Connectivity & Data | Digital twins

Digital twins

A digital twins is a virtual representation of a physical product, service, or asset. It can be a digital replica of an individual object, such as a vehicle or building, but can also be extended to larger scales, such as entire cities. Here are just some of the latest stories, opinions on digital twins.

Smart island enters next development phase

Smart island enters next development phase

Digital twins09 Mar 2026

Ambassadori Island Batumi in the Black Sea region is working with Arup to implement a smart city framework that integrates advanced digital infrastructure.

Industrial park deploys cognitive digital twin

Industrial park deploys cognitive digital twin

Digital twins13 Jan 2026

Great Plains Industrial Park and Kansas Proving Grounds in Southeast Kansas is using the technology to transform itself into an AI-enabled innovation ecosystem.

Rome crowned Smart City of 2025 at Barcelona Expo

Rome crowned Smart City of 2025 at Barcelona Expo

News06 Nov 2025

Judges at the World Smart City Awards gala said Rome’s visionary strategy is leveraging data, 5G and digital twins to enhance urban governance, improve public services and build resilience.

Dutch utility builds one of Europe’s largest smart water networks

Dutch utility builds one of Europe’s largest smart water networks

Water30 Oct 2025

To meet rising demand, Brabant Water is deploying a digital twin and smart metering with a view to building a more efficient, resilient drinking water system.

Bentley Systems announces infrastructure awards finalists

Bentley Systems announces infrastructure awards finalists

Digital twins06 Aug 2025

The awards celebrate the achievements of engineers and project teams in advancing infrastructure for better quality of life through digital innovation.

Gibraltar deploys simulation tool for net-zero buildings

Gibraltar deploys simulation tool for net-zero buildings

Climate action10 Jun 2025

Modelling tool by IES will provide granular insight on net-zero energy buildings in one of Europe’s most space-constrained and air-conditioning reliant nations.

How resilient is your city’s infrastructure?

How resilient is your city’s infrastructure?

News08 Apr 2025

SmartCitiesWorld is conducting a survey in association with Bentley Systems exploring the use of digital technologies to strengthen infrastructure resilience.

Satellite project aims to transform global mapping and digital twins

Satellite project aims to transform global mapping and digital twins

Digital twins03 Mar 2025

Marble Visions initiates development of a 3D earth observation satellite system in joint venture with NTT Data, Pasco Corporation and Canon Electronics.

Smart floating infrastructure aims to accelerate net zero goals

Smart floating infrastructure aims to accelerate net zero goals

Sustainable development goals25 Nov 2024

Scalable Smart Hubs infrastructure solution has been launched to accelerate decarbonisation across ports, harbours, waterways, and the industries they support.

Combining digital twins and drones for emergency preparedness

Combining digital twins and drones for emergency preparedness

Digital twins07 Dec 2023

How Lincolnshire Resilience Forum is using geospatial technology and image recognition and drone software to improve understanding of potential catastrophes.

Most Popular

ST Engineering to provide smart city platform for Lusail City

The company will build and operate a smart city platform with citywide network connectivity for the Qatar city using advanced AI and data-driven technologies.

Huawei seals smart city deal with Barcelona

They will collaborate on projects relating to 5G, smart city applications and digital transformation.

Solar city goes live

Trina Solar’s PV modules have begun operations in the 10MW Sustainable City in Dubai, which aims to use only clean energy sources

AI used to monitor and optimise Swedish road infrastructure

Computer vision and machine learning specialist, Univrses, will work with the Swedish Transport Administration to digitise and manage roadside infrastructure.

What is ‘Smart City’ and why do we need them?

Smart city is the framework based on Information and Communication technologies that enable the development of sustainable practices to address the urbanisation challenges. Leveraging the technology is one of the foremost pillars of ‘smart cities’ in order to increase efficiencies and improve the quality of resident’s life and the city’s services.

SmartCitiesWorld Newsletters (Daily/Weekly)

Our editorial newsletter pulls together our latest news items into one email, direct to your inbox. We also feature our latest city interviews, Special Reports and Guest Opinions.

Guest Opinions

Why water must lead the smart city conversationSponsored by Bentley Systems

Cecilia Correia, Senior Water Solutions Manager at Bentley Systems explains how strategy, policy and technology must ...

Connected video and sensors for greener urban livingSponsored by Axis Communications

Intelligent video sensors and AI are altering how cities manage sustainability. Andrea Sorri and Johnny Lee at Axis ...

Engineering healthier cities through smart technology

Dennis Dokter, Smart Cities Lead at Nexus, explores how technologies like digital twins can translate into tangible ...

How digital twins are transforming city sustainability initiativesSponsored by Hexagon

Hexagon’s Dr Uwe Jasnoch highlights cities around the world that are making digital twins a key strand of their climate ...

Think tank: City life on Mars? Creating human centred communities in space and beyond

In the latest in our series of opinions from our Advisory Board, the City of Mississauga’s Anthea Foyer says it’s time ...

Resilient cities are being redefined by the coronavirus

Covid-19 is showing us what resilience in cities actually is, writes Stephen Zoegall, director of global cities and ...

Special Reports

SmartCitiesWorld Summit 2026: connecting climate action, resilience and urban innovation

SmartCitiesWorld Summit 2026: connecting climate action, resilience and urban innovation

Cities Climate Action Summit 2024: unlocking climate finance

Cities Climate Action Summit 2024: unlocking climate finance

Cities Climate Action Summit 2024: assessing the role of tech in climate

Cities Climate Action Summit 2024: assessing the role of tech in climate

Research

White Paper: The intelligent city stack – digital twins, AI and sovereign urban infrastructure

White Paper: The intelligent city stack – digital twins, AI and sovereign urban infrastructure

How the convergence of sovereign urban intelligence infrastructure, digital twins and AI can help cities support decision-making and achieve better outcomes.

Insight Report: City as a system – linking edge intelligence and digital twins for better urban life

Insight Report: City as a system – linking edge intelligence and digital twins for better urban life

How edge computing, AI and digital twins can combine to improve community outcomes and inclusivity as well as build resilience

White Paper: A blueprint for using AI to create smarter cities

White Paper: A blueprint for using AI to create smarter cities

This white paper maps the end-to-end journey from data discovery to implementing complex AI models that can provide customised insight. It puts forward a blueprint for cities to use artificial intelligence to become smarter and more liveable by taking an outcomes-focused approach.