Urban digital twins, morphology and open data: an initial analysis in Madrid

The concept of digital twins first appeared in engineering and has more recently been introduced in the realm of smart city methodologies. The aim to achieve a high degree of integration of an increasingly large array of different information sources scattered among the different public and private agents is usually driven by an engineering efficiency goal. This is undoubtedly relevant as it can become a tool for more sustainable cities. The intersection of that approach with the open data policies is relevant, as these are meant to allow a more transparent city management. As a working hypothesis, an urban digital twin should be transparent in its inputs, and the analytical methodology used should also be open as it is a tool for public policy. This paper shows that the current data infrastructure in Madrid, given its granularity and consistency, can become a foundation for a future urban digital twin.