On 12 May 2025, the Active Travel & Health Working Group, together with the CITWIN Project and the City of Aarhus, held a webinar to explore how digital tools, particularly digital twins, can enhance walking and cycling infrastructure in cities.

As cities across Europe work to reduce CO₂ emissions and foster more liveable urban spaces, new tools are emerging to support these goals. One such innovation is the digital twin, a virtual model of the physical urban environment. The webinar, held online on 12 May 2025, was co-hosted by the Active Travel & Health Working Group, CITWIN Project, and the City of Aarhus. It brought together academic and municipal leaders and explored how digital tools like digital twins can improve conditions for walking and cycling. The event showcased ongoing research, practical applications, and open questions about using these technologies to shape future mobility.

The workshop focused on how digital twins can help simulate the impact of infrastructure changes before implementation. These tools enable cities to test and refine solutions for active travel, like walking and cycling, in a cost-effective and sustainable way. The CITWIN project, led by the University of Liège, aims to create adaptable, scalable models that are grounded in human experience and real-world challenges.

Among the highlights was the presentation of Aarhus’s green mobility plan, which aims to shift 50% of transport to public transit while improving walking and cycling infrastructure. Speakers also discussed a new set of indicators for measuring walkability and cyclability, derived from a comprehensive review of 336 studies. These indicators are designed to assess urban environments more effectively, ensuring that infrastructure changes meet the needs of all citizens.

The event also tackled the challenges of implementing these tools, especially in smaller municipalities, and emphasised the importance of ensuring that these innovations are equitable and inclusive. The discussion underscored the potential of digital twins to not only improve infrastructure but also foster a more sustainable, people-centred approach to urban planning.

Find out more in the full report here. You can also view the full recording of the webinar here.