How can site-specific digital twins revolutionize urban design and community engagement?

Initially developed in fields such as manufacturing and engineering, digital twins (DT) has emerged as a critical tool for replicating and simulating the physical world within a virtual environment. City-level digital twin (CDT) signifies a natural evolution of the DT paradigm, extending its principles into the domain of urban planning and urban development, which is not just a linear progression but also encapsulates unique historical ties to the field of urban studies. Despite its broad applicability, implementing DT in less controlled contexts like urban landscape environments presents unique challenges, particularly drawing skepticism around the feasibility of launching a universal city-level DT.

It is significant to shift the focus from CDT to site-scale DT, for which we envision urban and landscape design and management as emerging fields for experiments on technology in the built environment. First, we propose to reframe CDT from off-the-shelf products to case-specific, site-scale networked DT solutions that require constant upgrades, modification, and interoperation. Second, we argue that landscape projects, similar to many existing urban tech projects, are viable and critical components that may contribute significantly to the long-term effort of realizing a CDT.

The paper entitled “Site-Scale Digital Twinning: From City-Scale Modeling to Multiple Micro-Urban Interventions”, which was published on the journal of Landscape Architecture Frontiers, introduces three design case studies of site-scale landscape DT interventions that seamlessly integrate the virtual and physical realms within urban landscapes. The data flows of the three cases demonstrate varying degrees of interactivity, participation, and complexity.

A key insight from these initiatives is the importance of scalability and specificity in applying DT techniques. More controlled and effective modeling environments can be achieved by focusing on site-scale DT practices that target specific urban elements or landscapes. This approach facilitates the gradual integration of DT techniques into the urban fabric, enabling the accumulation of data and insights to inform broader urban planning and design solutions. Another critical lesson is the fusion of traditional design interventions in the built environment, sensing and interactive technologies, data collection, and processing capabilities without necessarily explicating the DT concept. This flexibility, prioritizing implementation over conceptual discussions, lays a foundation for long-term data integration and cross-scale twinning. Moreover, the cases underscore the potential of DTs to enhance community engagement and participatory urbanism through interactive installations and gamified experiences, democratizing urban design processes and allowing residents to actively shape their environments. This not only strengthens community bonds but also promotes more inclusive and responsive urban development.

Looking ahead, the prospect of enhancing urban landscapes through site-scale DT projects is vast and largely unexplored. As technological capabilities expand, so do the opportunities for more sophisticated and integrated DT applications. Site-scale twinning practices offer a promising avenue for advancing disciplines related to the built environment and urban spaces, including urban planning and design, landscape architecture, public management, and property management. The accumulation of such projects paves the way for more networked solutions based on DT, integrating digital and physical realms to reimagine the urban interface, improve city livability, and foster deeper connections between people and their environments.