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 |
-
Track Programme
- Time and
Date of
the event -
-
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】
This programme showcased cutting-edge research spearheaded by the Italian National Research Council (CNR) under the theme of “Science for Cities”. It offered a multi-faceted exploration of scientific approaches to urban sustainability. Of particular interest was the introduction of “digital twin” technology, which enables the virtual replication and analysis of urban realities. This approach drew significant attention from attendees, highlighting a data-driven method for addressing the complex challenges facing cities and proposing innovative, forward-looking solutions.
The integration of various elements—such as transport, air quality, energy consumption, and green space distribution—was shown to enhance the effectiveness of urban policy-making. The programme also underscored the need for collaboration across disciplines, including geology and climate science, to build a holistic understanding of urban systems. Furthermore, a Japanese contribution introduced advanced satellite-based technologies for monitoring greenhouse gas emissions, broadening the scope for international collaboration in this field.
The structure and content of the programme made technical concepts accessible to a wide audience, including the general public, offering an engaging narrative that bridged technology and daily life. It successfully communicated the importance of developing cities that are resilient, data-informed, and centred on the needs of their inhabitants.
This programme proved to be a valuable platform for sharing global insights into how researchers, local authorities, industry, and citizens can co-create the cities of the future. It not only reinforced the relevance of scientific tools in urban planning but also encouraged continued dialogue and cooperation across borders.
【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
View Profile
Close
close
Ida Giulia Presta
Researcher, Institute for Systems Analysis and Computer Science, National Research Council of Italy
View Profile
Close
close
Marco Mancini
Researcher, Institute of Environmental Geology and Geoengineering, National Research Council of Italy
View Profile
Close
close
Makoto Saito
Senior Researcher, National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES), Japan
View Profile
Close
close
Susumu Tanabe
Chief Senior Researcher, Geological Survey of Japan, AIST – National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology
View Profile
Close
close
Massimo Mari
Technologist, Department of Engineering, ICT, Energy and Transportation Technologies (DIITET), National Research Council of Italy
View Profile
Close
close
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.
OTHER PROGRAM
The Future of Community and Mobility Week
