From 3–6 June 2025, the NexTCity project hosted its Training Week at Universitat Jaume I (UJI) in Castellón, Spain. Combining a Summer School and a Thematic Workshop, the week brought together researchers, students, and experts to explore the role of Digital Twins in advancing sustainable and climate-neutral cities.
Summer School: Data Analysis and AI for Digital Twins
The programme began with the Summer School (3–4 June), which focused on technologies, tools, and artificial intelligence applications for Digital Twins.
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Florian Fisher led several sessions on Reality Mapping as a catalyst for Digital Twins, Foundational data creation in ArcGIS, ArcGIS as a platform for Digital Twins, and Success cases of Digital Twins.
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Minerva Centeno introduced participants to GeoAI and its applications.
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Joep Crompvoets presented on the Impact of 3D data.
The Summer School also included a social activity (Green Route) and a networking dinner at Torreón de Benicàssim, offering informal opportunities to build connections.
Thematic Workshop: Techniques for 3D Modelling and Visualization
The Thematic Workshop (5–6 June) shifted the focus towards 3D modelling, indoor mapping, and smart app development.
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Adrián Bautista Gil introduced participants to Blenderization for 3D modelling and demonstrated Creating 3D models and uploading them to ArcGIS Pro.
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Nicolás Luna guided sessions on ArcGIS Indoors Basics, ArcGIS Network, and Publishing services and creating applications.
The workshop concluded with a consortium meeting between KU Leuven, NOVA IMS, and UJI, reinforcing the project’s collaborative foundation.
Strengthening Capacity Through International Collaboration
Together, the Summer School and Workshop demonstrated NexTCity’s commitment to capacity building and international knowledge exchange. By equipping researchers with advanced skills in data analysis, AI, 3D modelling, and real-time urban analytics, the events laid important groundwork for the project’s central ambition: creating a Digital Twin for a Zero Emissions (ZER) area in Lisbon.
Looking Ahead
The Training Week in Castellón marked a milestone in NexTCity’s journey, bringing together academic excellence and practical training. The expertise shared by lecturers and the collaboration among participants are expected to inform the project’s next steps and strengthen its contribution to Europe’s transition toward climate-neutral and resilient cities.