Digital urban twins are a promising tool to understand, monitor, simulate and optimize urban systems. They can help cities use data more effectively to analyze, predict, and address various issues. This Urban Brief explores the potential of digital twins while acknowledging the complexities and limitations cities may face in the utilization of such a tool, especially in developing contexts.

Featuring a case study of the Punggol Digital District, with direct insights from JTC, the Singapore Government’s industrial masterplanner and developer, the UNDP Singapore Global Centre hopes to encourage discussions on key urban technologies and innovation, how they can be harnessed for development and how they can improve the lives of people.