From 3–5 September 2025, the University of Ljubljana hosted a three-day workshop on Digital Twins for Multiscale Built Environment Management. The event was held in hybrid format and gathered researchers, teaching staff, PhD students, and practitioners to strengthen capacities in sustainable spatial and infrastructure planning through advanced digital tools.
Digital twins – dynamic simulations that mirror and interact with the physical world – were at the heart of the workshop. By integrating live data and predictive analytics, these tools enable monitoring, scenario testing, and adaptive planning. Their application is crucial for addressing environmental complexity and climate risks, while supporting data-driven, inclusive, and transparent governance.
The three-day program unfolded through a rich set of lectures and discussions, each day dedicated to a different scale and application of digital twin technology. Contributions from experts across CROSS-REIS partner institutions – including UL, OSLOMET, EMEA, EFRI and CERTH – emphasized the interdisciplinary potential of digital twins, ranging from construction to urban mobility, environmental monitoring, and regenerative ecosystem planning.
Day 1: Digital Twins for Construction and the Built Environment – focused on BIM evolution, environmental and economic applications, and risks of AI in architecture and engineering. Dr. Robert Klinc (UL FGG) traced the evolution from Building Information Modelling (BIM) to digital twins, demonstrating how this shift is transforming construction practices. Dr. Matevž Dolenc (UL FGG) then explored the environmental and economic aspects of BIM applications, underlining their contribution to cost efficiency and sustainability. The day concluded with a practical site demonstration, linking theory with real-world applications.
Day 2: Digital Twins at City and Landscape Scales – explored city digital twins for mobility and emissions, participatory approaches to territorial regenerative ecosystems, and geospatial applications in watershed analysis. Dr. Claudia Hedwig van der Laag (OSLOMET) introduced the potential of city digital twins for sustainable mobility and emissions evaluation, drawing on Nordic experiences. Dr. Maria Chatziathanasiou (CERTH) presented CERTH/HIT’s 4-step model for Thessaloniki, designed to bring evidence-based insights into urban mobility decisions. Dr. Carlo Sessa (EMEA) emphasized the importance of participatory design in developing digital twin applications for territorial regenerative ecosystems, while Dr. John Östh (OSLOMET) demonstrated how digital elevation models can be linked to watershed analysis, connecting geospatial data with environmental planning.
Day 3: Digital Twins for Environmental Solutions and Future Pathways – addressed applications in cultural heritage, nature-based solutions, and ethical and governance challenges of digital twin use. Dr. Joanna Badach (Gdańsk University of Technology) showcased how digital data platforms can support the management of urban and cultural heritage, bridging conservation with technological innovation. Dr. Luma Fonseca Alvez (University of Turku) highlighted methods for co-designing nature-based solutions using participatory digital tools that empower stakeholders. Dr. Dragan Čišić (EFRI) explored the integration of artificial intelligence with digital twins, emphasizing how AI-driven analytics can enhance predictive capabilities, optimize system performance, and unlock new possibilities for sustainable decision-making. Dr. Žiga Turk (UL FGG) raised critical reflections on the challenges and risks of AI in architecture and engineering, engaging participants in a discussion on ethics, safety, and transparency.
This workshop was part of the project WP Empowering Research Excellence, which strengthens research careers, fosters interdisciplinary upskilling, and promotes the exchange of academic and non-academic staff. By combining scientific expertise with practical applications, the workshop advanced CROSS-REIS goals of building innovation ecosystems for a regenerative economy. Across all three days, the workshop highlighted the transformative potential of digital twins—from buildings to entire landscapes—in supporting sustainable transitions.