Urban circularity digital twin to support decision-making for sustainable mobility

Achieving sustainability requires urban systems to become circular. Digital technologies can be used to map and potentially eliminate waste in urban resource flows through the use of accurate, real-time and integrated data across different sectors. This study is part of a larger research project that applies Design Science Research with the aim of developing a circularity Urban Digital Twin to be tested in Knowledge Territories located on urban fringes, using them as living laboratories. This paper presents the identification of indicators and strategies for developing a model to assess urban circularity, with the purpose of developing a framework for an Urban Digital Twin to simulate different scenarios using dynamic data to support decision-making. It focuses on mobility effectiveness and its relationship with the built environment. It uses a Systematic Literature Mapping on Urban Digital Twins applied to urban circularity to map existing approaches and computational tools. Urban circularity indicators related to urban mobility were extracted and adapted from relevant urban scale certification systems to develop a structure for an urban circularity Digital Twin. This research contributes to the development of Urban Digital Twins and real-time data acquisition planning. Urban Digital Twins for urban circularity can support evidence-based decision making and transparency for urban management, planning, policy-making and governance aiming at urban regeneration.