DISCS: An Approach for Accelerating the Development of Digital Twins for Smart Cities

This chapter investigates the integration of Digital Twin into Smart City innovation within the DISCS (Design and Integration of Smart City Solutions) approach, emphasizing the need for more effective development and testing of innovative solutions. By integrating Digital Twin with living labs and test beds, the chapter aims to mitigate innovation risks, bridge developmental gaps, and promote evidence-based decision-making. Additionally, it underscores the importance of defining system requirements and architectural frameworks for Digital Twin systems. Through scenarios in Energy Management, Sustainable Mobility, Water Resource Management, and Disaster Response, it demonstrates the transformative potential and benefits of integrating Digital Twin, living labs, and test beds within the DISCS framework. It introduces two critical tools from the Digital Twin Consortium: The Digital Twin Capability Periodic Table and the Digital Twin Platform Stack Reference Architecture to tailor solutions to specific Smart City scenarios, ensuring the realization of the DISCS approach’s transformative potential within the Smart City ecosystem.