An Epistemological-Political Meta-Account of Digital Urban Twins

This theoretical contribution explores Digital Urban Twins (DUTs) through the lens of political epistemology, aiming to critically evaluate DUT conceptions and propose future research directions. DUTs, designed to generate forecasts for city governance, must address not only technological challenges but also political and social ones due to their public function, and specific theoretical frameworks are needed to manage these challenges. Political epistemology, which integrates scientific knowledge with its political context, offers valuable insights. Reviewing meta-literature on DUTs reveals a focus on social integration and governance issues, with case studies illustrating the complexity of DUT applications, emphasizing the need for interdisciplinary insights and participatory processes. This analysis suggests that political epistemology can inform DUT research, raising important questions and highlighting the intertwined nature of technical and social aspects in urban governance and technoscientific practices.