Urban Sustainability and the Local Politics of Digital Twins: the Cases of Bologna and Milan

To address the complexity of sustainable urban development, policymakers are making increasing use of digital technology tools, now including AI and urban digital twins (UDTs). The aims of the article are to shed light on the political implications of UDTs uses in urban policy and governance aimed a...

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Main Authors: Ernesto d'Albergo, Giorgio Giovanelli
Format: Article
Language:deu
Published: Firenze University Press 2024-12-01
Series:SocietàMutamentoPolitica: Rivista Italiana di Sociologia
Subjects:
Online Access:https://oajournals.fupress.net/index.php/smp/article/view/15407
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author Ernesto d'Albergo
Giorgio Giovanelli
author_facet Ernesto d'Albergo
Giorgio Giovanelli
author_sort Ernesto d'Albergo
collection DOAJ
description To address the complexity of sustainable urban development, policymakers are making increasing use of digital technology tools, now including AI and urban digital twins (UDTs). The aims of the article are to shed light on the political implications of UDTs uses in urban policy and governance aimed at sustainability and to understand from a perspective of political sociology factors influencing processes of UDTs design and implementation. Research questions regard the local politics of UDTs for sustainability analyzed through the lenses of policy frames, contexts, regulation and data governance and value. Responses are based on evidence from the comparative analysis of two case studies: Bologna and Milan, carried out through desk and field research (analysis of documents and interviews). Local agencies lead to different approaches and, potentially, outcomes, made possible by the diversity and plasticity of UDT models, systems and purposes, as well as by the elasticity and adaptability to different spatial contexts of the policy paradigm of urban sustainability. Two patterns of the local politics of UDTs emerge in Bologna and Milan, in which above all the roles of public actors and businesses are different. Logics of action, practices and forms of coordination are transferred from the broader systems of urban governance and political economy to the more circumscribed systems of action of UDTs.
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spelling doaj-art-aa1db7b285964cc885967962476dc7b62025-08-20T03:08:38ZdeuFirenze University PressSocietàMutamentoPolitica: Rivista Italiana di Sociologia2038-31502024-12-011530657810.36253/smp-1540714244Urban Sustainability and the Local Politics of Digital Twins: the Cases of Bologna and MilanErnesto d'Albergo0Giorgio Giovanelli1Sapienza Università di Roma, ItalySapienza Università di Roma, ItalyTo address the complexity of sustainable urban development, policymakers are making increasing use of digital technology tools, now including AI and urban digital twins (UDTs). The aims of the article are to shed light on the political implications of UDTs uses in urban policy and governance aimed at sustainability and to understand from a perspective of political sociology factors influencing processes of UDTs design and implementation. Research questions regard the local politics of UDTs for sustainability analyzed through the lenses of policy frames, contexts, regulation and data governance and value. Responses are based on evidence from the comparative analysis of two case studies: Bologna and Milan, carried out through desk and field research (analysis of documents and interviews). Local agencies lead to different approaches and, potentially, outcomes, made possible by the diversity and plasticity of UDT models, systems and purposes, as well as by the elasticity and adaptability to different spatial contexts of the policy paradigm of urban sustainability. Two patterns of the local politics of UDTs emerge in Bologna and Milan, in which above all the roles of public actors and businesses are different. Logics of action, practices and forms of coordination are transferred from the broader systems of urban governance and political economy to the more circumscribed systems of action of UDTs.https://oajournals.fupress.net/index.php/smp/article/view/15407urban sustainabilitydigital twinsurban policiesurban governance
spellingShingle Ernesto d'Albergo
Giorgio Giovanelli
Urban Sustainability and the Local Politics of Digital Twins: the Cases of Bologna and Milan
SocietàMutamentoPolitica: Rivista Italiana di Sociologia
urban sustainability
digital twins
urban policies
urban governance
title Urban Sustainability and the Local Politics of Digital Twins: the Cases of Bologna and Milan
title_full Urban Sustainability and the Local Politics of Digital Twins: the Cases of Bologna and Milan
title_fullStr Urban Sustainability and the Local Politics of Digital Twins: the Cases of Bologna and Milan
title_full_unstemmed Urban Sustainability and the Local Politics of Digital Twins: the Cases of Bologna and Milan
title_short Urban Sustainability and the Local Politics of Digital Twins: the Cases of Bologna and Milan
title_sort urban sustainability and the local politics of digital twins the cases of bologna and milan
topic urban sustainability
digital twins
urban policies
urban governance
url https://oajournals.fupress.net/index.php/smp/article/view/15407
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