Enhancing Predictive Urban Planning in European Smart Cities Through AI-Driven Digital Twin Technology: A Case Study of Greece

This research aims to assess the contribution of artificial intelligence (AI)-driven digital twin technology in improving the predictive planning of European smart cities, particularly in Greece. It considers the effect of specific elements including simulation accuracy, real-time data processing, a...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Dimitrios Kalfas, Stavros Kalogiannidis, Konstantinos Spinthiropoulos, Fotios Chatzitheodoridis, Evangelia Ziouziou
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-07-01
Series:Urban Science
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2413-8851/9/7/267
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850071658155474944
author Dimitrios Kalfas
Stavros Kalogiannidis
Konstantinos Spinthiropoulos
Fotios Chatzitheodoridis
Evangelia Ziouziou
author_facet Dimitrios Kalfas
Stavros Kalogiannidis
Konstantinos Spinthiropoulos
Fotios Chatzitheodoridis
Evangelia Ziouziou
author_sort Dimitrios Kalfas
collection DOAJ
description This research aims to assess the contribution of artificial intelligence (AI)-driven digital twin technology in improving the predictive planning of European smart cities, particularly in Greece. It considers the effect of specific elements including simulation accuracy, real-time data processing, artificial intelligence tools, and system readiness on the urban planning process. Structured questionnaires were administered to 301 urban professionals working in smart cities across Greece, focusing on their perceptions of the impact of digital twin features on predictive urban planning effectiveness. Respondents were asked how crucial they found the different features of digital twins in actually improving predictive urban planning. Measurement data were described using the arithmetic mean, standard deviation, and coefficient of variation, while categorical data were described using frequency distribution tables and percentages. This study revealed that the simulation fidelity, available real-time data integration, artificial intelligence analytics, and results- oriented monitoring system maturity have a positive impact on the accuracy, speed, and flexibility of urban planning. Some of the respondents noted these features as very useful for the prediction of urban conditions and decision-making purposes. Nevertheless, some drawbacks related to the computational load and data flow were also revealed. AI-driven digital twins are useful for improving the effectiveness of urban planning. However, they encounter technical issues; therefore, seeking to focus on system maturity and data integration is necessary for their successful implementation. Cities should adopt advanced digital twin technologies and enhance the compatibility of data and maintain AI transparency for better urban planning results.
format Article
id doaj-art-91dfecb6514d4b9bbc43e6d5a453d57c
institution DOAJ
issn 2413-8851
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Urban Science
spelling doaj-art-91dfecb6514d4b9bbc43e6d5a453d57c2025-08-20T02:47:14ZengMDPI AGUrban Science2413-88512025-07-019726710.3390/urbansci9070267Enhancing Predictive Urban Planning in European Smart Cities Through AI-Driven Digital Twin Technology: A Case Study of GreeceDimitrios Kalfas0Stavros Kalogiannidis1Konstantinos Spinthiropoulos2Fotios Chatzitheodoridis3Evangelia Ziouziou4Department of Agriculture, School of Agricultural Sciences, University of Western Macedonia, 53100 Florina, GreeceDepartment of Business Administration, University of Western Macedonia, 51100 Grevena, GreeceDepartment of Management Science and Technology, University of Western Macedonia, 50100 Kozani, GreeceDepartment of Management Science and Technology, University of Western Macedonia, 50100 Kozani, GreeceDepartment of Management Science and Technology, University of Western Macedonia, 50100 Kozani, GreeceThis research aims to assess the contribution of artificial intelligence (AI)-driven digital twin technology in improving the predictive planning of European smart cities, particularly in Greece. It considers the effect of specific elements including simulation accuracy, real-time data processing, artificial intelligence tools, and system readiness on the urban planning process. Structured questionnaires were administered to 301 urban professionals working in smart cities across Greece, focusing on their perceptions of the impact of digital twin features on predictive urban planning effectiveness. Respondents were asked how crucial they found the different features of digital twins in actually improving predictive urban planning. Measurement data were described using the arithmetic mean, standard deviation, and coefficient of variation, while categorical data were described using frequency distribution tables and percentages. This study revealed that the simulation fidelity, available real-time data integration, artificial intelligence analytics, and results- oriented monitoring system maturity have a positive impact on the accuracy, speed, and flexibility of urban planning. Some of the respondents noted these features as very useful for the prediction of urban conditions and decision-making purposes. Nevertheless, some drawbacks related to the computational load and data flow were also revealed. AI-driven digital twins are useful for improving the effectiveness of urban planning. However, they encounter technical issues; therefore, seeking to focus on system maturity and data integration is necessary for their successful implementation. Cities should adopt advanced digital twin technologies and enhance the compatibility of data and maintain AI transparency for better urban planning results.https://www.mdpi.com/2413-8851/9/7/267AI-driven digital twinspredictive urban planningsmart citiessimulation fidelityreal-time data integrationsystem maturity
spellingShingle Dimitrios Kalfas
Stavros Kalogiannidis
Konstantinos Spinthiropoulos
Fotios Chatzitheodoridis
Evangelia Ziouziou
Enhancing Predictive Urban Planning in European Smart Cities Through AI-Driven Digital Twin Technology: A Case Study of Greece
Urban Science
AI-driven digital twins
predictive urban planning
smart cities
simulation fidelity
real-time data integration
system maturity
title Enhancing Predictive Urban Planning in European Smart Cities Through AI-Driven Digital Twin Technology: A Case Study of Greece
title_full Enhancing Predictive Urban Planning in European Smart Cities Through AI-Driven Digital Twin Technology: A Case Study of Greece
title_fullStr Enhancing Predictive Urban Planning in European Smart Cities Through AI-Driven Digital Twin Technology: A Case Study of Greece
title_full_unstemmed Enhancing Predictive Urban Planning in European Smart Cities Through AI-Driven Digital Twin Technology: A Case Study of Greece
title_short Enhancing Predictive Urban Planning in European Smart Cities Through AI-Driven Digital Twin Technology: A Case Study of Greece
title_sort enhancing predictive urban planning in european smart cities through ai driven digital twin technology a case study of greece
topic AI-driven digital twins
predictive urban planning
smart cities
simulation fidelity
real-time data integration
system maturity
url https://www.mdpi.com/2413-8851/9/7/267
work_keys_str_mv AT dimitrioskalfas enhancingpredictiveurbanplanningineuropeansmartcitiesthroughaidrivendigitaltwintechnologyacasestudyofgreece
AT stavroskalogiannidis enhancingpredictiveurbanplanningineuropeansmartcitiesthroughaidrivendigitaltwintechnologyacasestudyofgreece
AT konstantinosspinthiropoulos enhancingpredictiveurbanplanningineuropeansmartcitiesthroughaidrivendigitaltwintechnologyacasestudyofgreece
AT fotioschatzitheodoridis enhancingpredictiveurbanplanningineuropeansmartcitiesthroughaidrivendigitaltwintechnologyacasestudyofgreece
AT evangeliaziouziou enhancingpredictiveurbanplanningineuropeansmartcitiesthroughaidrivendigitaltwintechnologyacasestudyofgreece