How the European Union's CitiVerse is leading user experience

This year, the European Union (EU) announced a major initiative towards progress in smart city developments throughout the region. “The CitiVerse” is comprised of the European Digital Infrastructure Consortium (EDIC), which aims to create a unified ecosystem of digital services and solutions that connect cities throughout the EU. 

In Arizona, we’re paying close attention to what major cities around the world are doing in terms of urban technology and smart city developments. Global learnings can inform developments here in the Grand Canyon State, as we apply EU data and outcomes to benefit local AZ constituents.

Core components of the EU CitiVerse include:

• Digital twins

• Artificial intelligence

• Data visualization

• Extended reality (XR), including augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR)

These smart city technologies, which are also in use throughout the Valley including the City of Phoenix, City of Tempe, City of Scottsdale, City of Mesa and others, help EU cities share tools that improve urban living for constituents as well as government organization and city planning efficiency.

Cities, no matter which side of the pond, can learn from each other. This groundbreaking development that bridges civic life with emerging technology presents a way U.S. cities, including those in Arizona, can meaningfully move the needle on improving the citizen experience. 

What Is the CitiVerse, Exactly?

As the EU describes it, “The CitiVerse is a next-level digital space where citizens, communities and city officials can interact in a whole new way, by applying AR/VR to participatory decision-making. Imagine exploring planned urban projects before they’re built, participating in virtual town halls, or even testing solutions to reduce traffic and pollution – all from your smartphone, tablet or computer!”

The CitiVerse is a citizen-focused, 3D virtual world that fuses digital twins, AR and VR, and open urban data into an immersive, interactive public infrastructure. Both urban planners and everyday citizens can participate in this virtual world to test out city planning functions, contribute ideas in real-time discussions, and visualize projects before they’re executed. It’s a way to meet people exactly where they are, from any device, to enable dynamic service delivery, increase public engagement, break data silos, and encourage inter-city collaboration.

“We’ve lived with digital information out in the æther,” says Jake Taylor, The Connective’s Design & Technology Manager, “but now that digital experience is bleeding into everyday life.”

While digital public spaces are currently serving as gathering places where citizens can share ideas and learn about important city-related issues, digital cities in formats like the CitiVerse enable more capabilities. The CitiVerse enables functions such as:

• Smart urban planning: Cities can use AI to make decisions that lead to outcomes such as improved air quality and reduced congestion. Citizens can use simulations and interactive 3D models to visualize city planning and provide input.
  

• Enhanced public services: Both citizens and city employees can access and use virtual services that simplify administrative tasks and improve transportation and housing development.

• Increased community engagement: With enhanced visualization, citizens and urban planners alike can provide feedback based on contextual environments to strengthen city planning.

  
  

The CitiVerse brings social and digital realities together, improving the speed of feedback capture and making decision-making more efficient and successful.

How CitiVerse Lighthouse Cities Are Leading the Way

There are “lighthouse” cities involved with the CitiVerse that are launching unique pilot programs and sharing their learnings with others, including Flanders, Belgium; Rotterdam, Netherlands; and Tampere, Finland. All lighthouse cities are emphasizing radical citizen centricity, which places citizen thinking over city operations. Details of their projects include:

• Flanders, Belgium: Flanders is focused on using XR tools like AR and VR to understand various factors on environmental impact. This pilot program gives citizens the capability to view complex environmental reports in simplified 3D visualizations. Community members can see how city planning is impacting sustainability in their city.
  

• Rotterdam, Netherlands: Rotterdam has developed an interactive 3D tool that enables citizens to visualize urban projects, access city services, and offer feedback. These tools foster transparency and enable more inclusive decision-making, as public data becomes shared infrastructure that drives decision-making. 
  

• Tampere, Finland: Tampere has created immersive digital experiences throughout the city, including interactive public art maps and XR exhibitions in public spaces, cultural landmarks and museums. 

  
  

Pilot program results can be applied to other EU cities within the CitiVerse, driving innovation through public investment and strengthening regional cooperation throughout the EU. These findings can also impact other cities around the globe.

CitiVerse Considerations: Technology ≠ Governance

While there are great strides being made in urban planning technology like the CitiVerse, it’s important to remember that tech isn’t a substitute for poor leadership or broken systems. As Taylor says, “Many cities slap digital band-aids onto self-inflicted wounds.”

The success of the CitiVerse requires cities to use real-time data gathering to simultaneously evolve their decision-making frameworks and values. Meaningful change requires better civic decision-making, not just flashy tools.

The good news is, frameworks implemented in projects like the CitiVerse increase transparency into data and decision-making for both constituents and city organizational leaders and employees. This knowledge-sharing can improve outcomes, using tech to gather and analyze data that informs strategy and decisions.

How Arizona Cities Are Connecting to Projects Like the EU CitiVerse

Representatives from Phoenix’s The Connective recently attended the Imagine 2025 conference in Tampere, Finland, where we learned more about the CitiVerse directly from organizers and were able to connect with integral representatives of the CitiVerse initiative. Here in the Valley, Arizona cities are already experimenting with similar technology that’s integral to the CitiVerse. The Connective leads the wave of smart city innovation. For example:

• The City of Mesa has conducted a Request for Information for XR and metaverse solutions for small business resources. Mesa’s Smart City projects include implementing an Open Data Portal, using smart irrigation controls and multi sensor nodes for improving air quality, expanding library services, and using building automation for smart infrastructure. Another project implements a ChatBot with artificial intelligence to make it easier for citizens to connect with city services.
  

• The City of Avondale has created a concept of a metaverse-powered virtual town hall that can unlock civic engagement. This would allow citizens easier access to local government and increase transparency.
  

• The City of Scottsdale is exploring augmented reality for business development and historical tourism.
  

• The City of Surprise is also having conversations about initiatives similar to those in the CitiVerse. One example is an Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Strategic Plan, which will improve functionality of the city’s transportation central management software and technologies, including traffic signals and fiber optic communications.

  
  

These are just a few examples of Valley cities striving toward CitiVerse-like capabilities. Valley cities should be looking for strategic opportunities to shape (not just follow) the next era of urban technology. 

The Case for the Connected Future in AZ & Beyond

The EU’s CitiVerse approach is bold and likely challenging but we’re encouraged by the collaborative nature and willingness of EU cities to share knowledge and drive efficient innovation. In order for the CitiVerse, Valley cities and other cities to be successful when using technology to improve services, recommended actions include:

• Consider citizen centricity and the digital reality residents face: One of the biggest priorities with initiatives like the CitiVerse is to improve life for residents. That means any tech-focused initiatives should be introduced and designed with citizens in mind.
  

• Prepare for cyber-physical integration: In an ever-connected world where smartphones and connected devices are continually present, cities should think about how to blend CitiVerse-like technology with physical life. For example, integrating AR tech with cultural landmarks is one way to deepen the connection visitors and citizens have to a city.
  

• Embrace open data, interoperability and resident-centric tech: Open data allows citizens and city employees to access the data they want, when they need to. This can help speed up innovation, idea sharing and community improvements. Cities must focus on using technology and functionality that meets citizens where they are. Surveys and data gathering can help cities continually improve their tech and its functions.

  
  

With thoughtful strategy that’s continually evolving based on citizen and employee feedback, cities can accelerate the progress they're making with the help of CitiVerse-like tech that rethinks how people and cities connect. We’re encouraged by the EU’s CitiVerse projects and look forward to Valley cities adopting or creating similar technology that meets city needs. The door is open for cities like Phoenix to help share what comes next.