Abstract Summary
Digital Urban Twins are currently developed in cities around the world to support sustainable and inclusive urban development. To achieve this goal, significant resources are invested to shape such technology. However, looking at some demonstrators and proof-of-concepts, it seems that mere 3D models for city officials or simulations for mobility optimization rather reinforce existent systems instead of assisting the transition towards a more just, resilient and climate-neutral city. Beyond that, fully integrated digital urban twin solutions often follow a control room approach and top-down, centralized modes of governance and decision making. As the term currently serves as a boundary object under active debate, there is the need and the potential to conduct an anamnesis for upcoming interventions. The goal of this workshop is for participants and moderators aside to explore prospects and pitfalls of digital urban twins regarding the realization of the UN’s sustainable development goal 11. Together, participants will (1) map out digital urban twin examples that they are familiar with, (2) collect best and worst practices of applications in smaller groups, (3) identify areas of intervention and (4) develop potential future pathways leveraging the power of messiness. Messiness both relates to the complex nature of cities, as well as to our workshop approach of finding disruptive solutions. The target audience includes city officials, “digital twinning” practitioners, as well as academics from interdisciplinary backgrounds (max. 40 people). The workshop is hosted by researchers from the City Science Lab at HafenCity University in Hamburg who currently lead the transformative and experimental research in Germany’s largest smart city project “Connected Urban Twins”.
