Abstract

The talk is based on “The local governance of digital technology – Implications for the city-scale digital twin” project which investigated how existing governance systems influence the design and implementation of city digital twins (CDTs). It highlighted the importance of building a better understanding of the complex ways in which the social and technical spheres interact and impact the invention and adoption of new technologies, such as CDTs. Several practical recommendations were developed through a case study of relevant urban governance structures and processes in the Cambridge sub-region. These point to the importance of considering user and community perspectives, and evaluating technology options through the effectiveness, efficiency and democratic quality of the evidence they can provide for decision-making.