How can cities proactively assess the impacts of infrastructure changes before implementation? The CityNexus digital twin application, part of the DestinE (Destination Earth) initiative by the European Space Agency (ESA), promises a game-changing solution.
“CityNexus is an innovative urban digital twin application designed to assess the environmental, social and economic impact of changes in road networks, mobility factors and the urban space organization,” Simone Fratini, Principal Research Engineer at Solenix and CityNexus Project Manager, explained recently.
The power of CityNexus lies in its ability to simulate “what-if” scenarios, allowing cities to explore potential outcomes before committing resources.
“CityNexus supports informed decision-making by integrating multiple data sources, including high-frequency location-based mobility data and climate adaptation digital twins,” said Fratini.
CityNexus offers invaluable insights by modeling the potential impacts of initiatives such as improving transportation infrastructure or promoting electric vehicles. By evaluating different scenarios, it helps us understand how these changes could affect human mobility, air quality and public health. This ability is crucial for crafting effective urban planning, environmental sustainability, transportation and public health policies.
“The long-term goal of CityNexus is to provide support to municipalities and public institutions for climate-resilient urban development,” stated Fratini, underscoring the project’s commitment to fostering sustainable and adaptable cities.
As urbanization reshapes our world, tools like the CityNexus digital twin could transform city planning. By enabling data-driven decision-making, CityNexus paves the way for cities to become more livable, resilient and sustainable.
