Thematic Workshop:
Simulation Models for City Digital Twins

Deepen your expertise in simulation models and data-driven decision-making for city digital twins.

An intensive thematic workshop designed to strengthen the research capacity of participants in the development and application of simulation models, with a focus on what-if scenarios for urban decision support.

Hosted by NOVA IMS, this two-day workshop combines expert lectures, industry perspectives, hands-on sessions, and interactive discussions. Participants will explore key aspects of data, analytics, simulation, and visualization, while engaging with researchers and practitioners working on digital twin technologies. A joint initiative of the NexTCity project, a European partnership between NOVA IMS, Universitat Jaume I (UJI) and KU Leuven, bringing together expertise in urban analytics, modelling, and simulation, with the support of the European Union’s Horizon Europe program.

This workshop is free of charge, offering a valuable opportunity to engage with advanced topics in simulation models for digital twins and to exchange knowledge with experts from academia and industry.

A certificate of participation will be issued to all participants.

Applications for the Thematic Workshop are now closed. For any questions, please contact: info@nextcity.pt.

Format

In-person
Length

2 days
Language

English
Dates

April 22nd and 23rd
2026

Partnership

Universitat Jaume I
KU Leuven

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Support

European Union

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General Information

The thematic workshop aims to strengthen the research capacity of participants in the development and application of simulation models for city digital twins, with a particular focus on creating what-if scenarios to support data-driven urban decision-making.

The program covers key aspects of working with data and simulation in urban contexts, including data collection and integration, the use of analytics and AI models, and approaches to simulation and scenario development. It also explores how simulation results can be visualized and communicated effectively to support decision-making.

The workshop combines theoretical presentations, hands-on demonstrations, and interactive discussions, creating opportunities for participants to exchange knowledge and explore potential collaborations.

Key benefits:

Strengthening expertise in simulation models for city digital twins
Developing skills in data preparation, analytics, and AI for urban systems
Understanding and applying what-if scenarios for decision support
Engaging with experts from academia and industry
Promoting collaboration among research institutions

Who is it for?

The workshop is designed for all types of stakeholders working and/or interested in Urban Digital twins. This includes public authorities and technicians, researchers, students, and service providers, among others. It is particularly suited for those interested in strengthening their expertise in data-driven urban systems, simulation-based decision support, and the development of what-if scenarios for urban planning and policy analysis.

Program Structure

The workshop is organised over two intensive days, combining lectures, keynote sessions, industry talks, and discussion moments. All indoor activities will take place at the INE Auditorium at NOVA IMS.

Day 1 – Digital Twins: From Concept to Implementation (April 22^nd )

09:30 a.m | Opening and Introduction to the Workshop
Miguel de Castro Neto

10:00 a.m | Coffee Break

10:30 a.m | Case Presentation: Digital Twins for Smart, Sustainable Tourism and Cultural Heritage Preservation
Nuno Correia

11:30 a.m | Case Presentation: A Portuguese Digital Twin for Mobility
Joaquim de Castro Ferreira

12:30 p.m | Lunch

02:00 p.m | Gaia3DCity: The Strategy for Integrating Building Permits with BIM in Gaia's Urban Digital Twin
Marco Lima de Carvalho

03:00 p.m | Coffee Break

03:30 p.m | Talk: The Ethics and Governance of Data and Simulation Models for Smart Cities
Tekprivacy
Day 2 – Simulation, Governance and Urban Decision-Making (April 23^rd )

09:30 a.m | Industry Talk: Digital Twin Applications in Practice
Gonçalo Nunes

10:30 a.m | Coffee Break

11:00 a.m | Keynote: Building the Digilogue City – Integrating Multi-Modeling and Scenario Exploration in Urban Digital Twins
Rico Herzog

Coordination

Miguel de Castro Neto

NOVA IMS' Dean and Founder of NOVA Cidade - Urban Analytics Lab
mneto@novaims.unl.pt Know more

Professors and Speakers

Miguel de Castro Neto

NOVA IMS' Dean and Founder of NOVA Cidade - Urban Analytics Lab
mneto@novaims.unl.pt Know more
Rico Herzog

Research Lead in Modeling, Simulation, AI and Machine Learning at City Science Lab
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Marco Lima de Carvalho

Head of the Geographic Information Division at Gaiurb
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Joaquim de Castro Ferreira

Associate Professor at the University of Aveiro
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Nuno Correia

Full Professor at NOVA FCT
nmc@fct.unl.pt Know more
Gonçalo Nunes

Product Manager at ESRI Portugal
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