Digital Twin
Adapting cities to climate change requires an increasingly sophisticated understanding of territorial vulnerabilities and the impacts that urban decisions have on communities. Generating and analysing data-driven evidence is essential for identifying risks, prioritising actions and designing effective adaptation strategies.
In this context, the Digital Twin is emerging as an innovative tool that enables the integration and analysis of geospatial data to better understand the interactions between urban factors, simulate future scenarios and assess the impact of potential interventions before they are implemented.
Data and Innovation for More Resilient Cities
Exea Impact, in partnership with Aretian Urban Analytics and Design, is driving the development of a new climate resilience layer for the Digital Twin of the Barcelona metropolitan region. The project aims to develop an advanced analytical tool capable of anticipating the impacts of heatwaves and flooding, identifying the most vulnerable areas and prioritising adaptation solutions with the greatest potential impact. In doing so, it enables faster and more evidence-based decision-making.
The project is focused on:
· Developing a new geospatial database integrating urban, environmental, climate and socio-demographic information, bringing together the key datasets required to assess the territory’s climate resilience.
· Identifying the areas and populations most at risk and vulnerable to heatwaves and flooding across the Barcelona metropolitan region.
· Evaluating potential climate adaptation solutions through simulations that compare their effects on both the territory and local communities.
· Integrating this new climate resilience layer into the Digital Twin of the Barcelona metropolitan region and facilitating its use by technical professionals, public authorities and other stakeholders across the territory.
· Promoting knowledge transfer and adoption of the tool through outreach, training and support initiatives aimed at urban planning professionals and other relevant stakeholders.
Aretian Urban Analytics and Design
Aretian is a firm specialising in urban analytics and design, economic strategy and urban master planning. Originating from the Harvard Innovation Labs ecosystem and co-founded by engineer and researcher Ramon Gras, the company develops innovative tools that help understand urban dynamics and guide city transformation.
Aretian has developed the Digital Twin of both the Barcelona metropolitan region and the whole of Catalonia, and has extensive international experience in urban modelling and scenario simulation aimed at supporting decision-making in both the public and private sectors.