Lecture Notes: Smart Cities and Digital Twins

Introduction

• Speaker: Joe Philbrook, Deloitte Partner in Vancouver, BC.
• Guest Speakers:
  • Marco Espinheira, former head of Future of Qasqai, Portugal.
  • João Barroca, Deloitte's global public sector digital modernization leader.
• Agenda: Short presentations from speakers, followed by a fireside chat and Q&A session.

Marco Espinheira: The Future of Qasqai, Portugal

• Presentation Theme: City visualization and the city of the future.
• City of the Future: Contrary to sci-fi predictions, future cities are more integrated with nature and communities.
• Case Study: Qashqai, Portugal
  • Demographics: Close to Lisbon, 216,000 people with 20% expats, 123 nationalities.
  • Environment: 30% of territory is natural park, 32 km coastline.
  • City Strategy: Focus on community, sustainable living without reliance on technology.
  • Key Needs: Education, health, quality environment, culture, safety.
  • Smart City Vision: Co-creation with citizens, using technology as a tool.
  • Citizen Relationship Management: CRM for citizens, integrated city services.
  • Initiatives: Single contact number, data-driven services, integrated mobility, waste management.
  • COVID-19 Response: Quick adaptation using existing digital infrastructure.
  • Governance: Emphasized future-oriented roles in city management.

João Barroca: Global Perspectives on Digital Modernization

• Focus: Digital twins and global smart city trends.
• Digital Twins: Digital copies of physical systems for real-time monitoring and simulation.
• Applications: Predictive analysis, operational optimization, investment simulation.
• Use Cases: Real-time operations, scenario-based planning, integrated city management.
• Governance Challenges: Data governance, ethical considerations, privacy regulations.
• Benefits of Digital Twinning: Resource optimization, resilience, competitiveness, sustainability, improved decision-making.

Fireside Chat and Q&A

• **Key Topics Discussed: **
  • Balance Between Data Usage and Privacy: Trust in local government, governance over data usage.
  • Citizen Engagement: Importance of co-creation, participatory budgets.
  • Future of Cities: Emphasis on community engagement, automation, and technology as enablers.
  • Challenges and Opportunities: Integration of services, need for open government.

Conclusion

• Future Directions: Continued focus on community engagement, educational roles, and involvement in city projects.