The Future of Community and Mobility Week
Urban Digital Twins for Sustainable City Development
Italian Republic
The urban digital twin is developing as a future tool for managing cities, for their sustainability, and for preventing marginalization, using AI and sensors, but without forgetting the human aspect.
Recorded video available
Discussion
- Smart cities
| Transmission of simultaneous interpretation | Provided |
|---|---|
| Language of interpretation | Japanese and English |
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Track Programme
- Time and
Date of
the event -
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2025.05.15[Thu]
10:00 ～ 13:00
(Venue Open 09:30)
-
- Venue
- Pavilion
- Italy Pavilion, also hosting the Holy See
Programme details
*Subtitles: Choose “Subtitles/CC” in the “Settings” (gear icon) at the bottom right of the YouTube video.
*Subtitles may not show with multiple languages or overlapping audio.
Reports
【Reflection】
The National Research Council of Italy (CNR) has launched a strategic initiative known as Uber Intelligence, centered on the development and application of Urban Digital Twins. These virtual replicas of physical cities are designed to simulate urban dynamics over time, providing data-driven support for smart urban policy-making and planning. At the heart of this initiative is the Interdepartmental Center for City Science (CISC), established by the CNR.
In just one year, the center has already some collaborations with cities such as Matera, Catania, and Milan. Its aim is to develop a replicable methodology based on Digital Twins to guide integrated urban development. Public engagement plays a key role in the project: its participatory approach ensures the inclusion of citizens' needs and visions for the future city. A highlight of this approach involved 4,000 secondary school students in Matera, who participated in co-designing and analyzing urban spaces. CISC acts as a hub between researchers, public administrations, citizens, and businesses, fostering innovation and elevating Italian technological capabilities, such as the Digital Twins project.
Digital Twins enable the collection and analysis of urban data to answer key planning questions. Using sensors and simulation tools, they model phenomena such as traffic and pollution. Specialized twins, such as the air quality model and mobility twin, allow for scenario-based planning, predicting the impacts of traffic restrictions or green space placement on urban temperature. Urban geosciences also support planning and risk mitigation by studying subsoil characteristics through multi-scale, multidisciplinary approaches. In Rome, for example, detailed seismic microzonation studies inform resilience strategies in sensitive areas like the Colosseum.
Finally, the integration of geological studies and seismic-resilient construction methods—drawing comparisons between Italy and Japan—underscores the importance of combining knowledge, innovation, and tradition to build safer, smarter, and more livable cities.
【Post EXPO Initiatives】
Following the programme, initiatives concerning urban sustainability—particularly those involving digital twin technology—have continued to evolve both in Italy and internationally. CNR remains active in several Italian cities, advancing the use of integrated urban simulations and policy assessment tools. These efforts have yielded tangible outcomes in areas such as traffic optimisation, urban heat island mitigation, and strategic green space planning.
A noteworthy development has been the continued promotion of participatory urban design, particularly involving young people. These citizen-led approaches are helping to bring public administration closer to the real-life needs of residents, making city planning more inclusive and responsive.
In Japan, research is progressing on the real-time monitoring of greenhouse gas emissions and the integrated use of urban data, contributing to the development of evidence-based environmental policies. The international networks and knowledge-sharing fostered through the programme are expected to play a pivotal role in strengthening global collaboration.
This programme has helped to shift the narrative around urban development—from reactive to anticipatory, and from segmented to holistic. It has demonstrated the importance of interpreting cities through the lens of science and co-creating urban futures through the engagement of diverse stakeholders.
Looking ahead, we will continue to share the knowledge and case studies introduced in this programme with a broad audience, contributing to improved policy-making and sustainable urban transformation. The outcomes of this initiative will serve not only as a reference for researchers and policy-makers, but also as an inspiration for communities working together to shape a better urban future.
Cast
Speakers
Giovanni Felici
Director, Institute for Systems Analysis and Computer Science, National Research Council of Italy
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Ida Giulia Presta
Researcher, Institute for Systems Analysis and Computer Science, National Research Council of Italy
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Marco Mancini
Researcher, Institute of Environmental Geology and Geoengineering, National Research Council of Italy
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Makoto Saito
Senior Researcher, National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES), Japan
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Susumu Tanabe
Chief Senior Researcher, Geological Survey of Japan, AIST – National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology
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Massimo Mari
Technologist, Department of Engineering, ICT, Energy and Transportation Technologies (DIITET), National Research Council of Italy
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More Information
The Future of Community and Mobility Week
Urban Digital Twins for Sustainable City Development
The urban digital twin is developing as a future tool for managing cities, for their sustainability, and for preventing marginalization, using AI and sensors, but without forgetting the human aspect.
-
2025.05.15[Thu]
10:00～13:00
(Venue Open 09:30)
- Pavilion
- * Programme times and content are subject to change. Any changes will be announced on this website and via the ticket booking system.
- * The schedule is subject to change depending on the organiser's circumstances.
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The Future of Community and Mobility Week
