The Role of Digital Twins in Urban Economics
Introduction: The Virtual City Awakens Imagine a city that never sleeps—not because of neon lights or all-night diners, but because it exists simultaneously in two dimensions: the real world and a hyper-accurate digital replica. Welcome to the era of digital twins, where city planners, economists, and technologists are playing SimCity—but with real-world consequences. The concept of a digital twin—a virtual representation of a physical object, system, or city—has evolved from manufacturing to medicine and now, urban economics. In a world where cities face increasing challenges such as congestion, pollution, and housing shortages, digital twins offer a promising solution. But how exactly do they impact urban economies? Let’s take a data-driven yet entertaining deep dive. Digital Twins: What Are They, and Why Should Cities Care? In essence, a digital twin is a real-time, dynamic, and data-rich virtual copy of a physical asset. When applied to urban environments, these twins integra...