Human-Centered Digital Twins and AI for Climate-Responsive and Sustainable Urban Environments

Urban environments are increasingly shaped by digital technologies such as digital twins and artificial intelligence (AI), which enable advanced modelling, simulation, and real-time analysis of urban systems. While these tools have improved technical efficiency and environmental monitoring, their application often remains fragmented, with limited integration of human-centred design, spatial equity, and climate-responsive strategies. At the same time, cities are facing intensifying climate-related challenges, including heat stress, resource constraints, and environmental degradation, particularly in rapidly urbanizing and arid regions.This Special Issue aims to address this gap by promoting research that connects digital innovation with sustainable and climate-responsive urban development. It seeks contributions that integrate AI and digital twins with environmental performance assessment, urban design, and user-oriented perspectives. Recent advances in data-driven modelling, sensor integration, and predictive analytics provide opportunities to develop more adaptive, inclusive, and resilient urban systems grounded in measurable sustainability outcomes.This Research Topic focuses on the application of human-centred digital twins and artificial intelligence (AI) in advancing climate-responsive and sustainable urban environments. It invites contributions that examine the integration of digital technologies with urban design, environmental performance, and user experience.Key themes include digital twins across scales, AI-based environmental modelling, climate-responsive design strategies, low-carbon urban development, sustainability indicators and performance assessment, public open spaces and thermal comfort, nature-based solutions, and data-driven planning and governance. Contributions addressing climate-sensitive contexts, particularly hot and arid regions, are encouraged.The Research Topic welcomes original research articles, review papers, systematic reviews, and methodological studies. Submissions should demonstrate clear relevance to sustainability, methodological rigour, and applicability to real-world urban challenges. Topic editors: Osama Omar, Nazish Abid, Waqas Ahmed Mahar Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/80802/human-centered-digital-twins-and-ai-for-climate-responsive-and-sustainable-urban-environments