Next-Generation Urban Intelligence: AI, BIM, and Digital Twin Applications in Smart Cities

The rapid evolution of smart cities is transforming how urban environments are planned, monitored, and managed through data-driven and intelligent technologies. Recent advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI), Building Information Modelling (BIM), Digital Twins, Internet of Things (IoT), and urban sensing systems have enabled the development of integrated urban intelligence frameworks capable of improving decision-making, infrastructure resilience, sustainability, and citizen wellbeing. These technologies support real-time monitoring, predictive analytics, virtual simulations, and adaptive urban management across transportation, infrastructure, public services, and environmental systems. However, significant challenges remain regarding interoperability, data integration, governance, scalability, human-centred implementation, and stakeholder collaboration within complex urban ecosystems. This Research Topic aims to explore next-generation applications, frameworks, and methodologies that integrate AI, BIM, and Digital Twin technologies to advance smart city development, urban analytics, and sustainable urban transformation in line with emerging urban science and digital infrastructure agendas.The rapid advancement of smart city technologies has generated substantial research interest in the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Building Information Modelling (BIM), Digital Twins, IoT, and urban analytics for intelligent urban management and sustainable city development. However, existing studies are often fragmented across disciplines, technologies, and application domains, limiting knowledge integration and practical implementation within complex urban environments. There is a growing need for an interdisciplinary platform that brings together emerging research, innovative methodologies, real-world applications, and policy perspectives related to next-generation urban intelligence. This Special Issue aims to provide a dedicated forum for researchers, industry professionals, urban planners, policymakers, and technology developers to explore how AI-enabled systems, BIM, Digital Twins, and data-driven urban platforms can transform urban infrastructure, mobility, governance, resilience, and citizen-centric services. The issue particularly welcomes contributions addressing integrated urban ecosystems, smart infrastructure, predictive urban analytics, urban sensing, digital governance, sustainability, interoperability, and human-centred smart city solutions. By consolidating recent advances and future directions, this Special Issue seeks to support the development of more adaptive, connected, resilient, and sustainable urban environments aligned with evolving urban science and smart city agendas.This Special Issue invites original research articles, review papers, case studies, conceptual frameworks, and interdisciplinary contributions focusing on the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Building Information Modelling (BIM), Digital Twins, IoT, urban analytics, and data-driven technologies within smart cities and urban environments. The scope covers topics including intelligent urban infrastructure, urban sensing and monitoring, predictive analytics, digital governance, smart mobility, integrated urban data ecosystems, sustainability assessment, resilience planning, geospatial and spatial analytics, citizen participation, and human-centred urban intelligence frameworks. Contributions exploring interoperability, scalability, cybersecurity, ethical AI adoption, and real-world implementation challenges in smart city systems are also encouraged. Authors from academia, industry, government, and urban innovation sectors are welcome to submit studies that advance theoretical understanding, technological innovation, and practical applications aligned with sustainable urban development and contemporary urban science agendas. Topic editors: Milad Baghalzadeh Shishehgarkhaneh, Pejman Gh.P.Sabet, Ali Alashwal, Amer A. Hijazi Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/81843/next-generation-urban-intelligence-ai-bim-and-digital-twin-applications-in-smart-cities