Koen Smit is an associate professor at the HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht, in the Netherlands. He obtained his PhD in Computer Science in 2018 at the Open Universiteit. He is responsible for the bachelor software development and supervises a research group focused on Digital Innovations for Public Organizations, part of the Digital Ethics research chair. His research primarily focuses on the combination of Business Process Management, Business Rules Management, Decision Management, Process Mining, Decision Mining, Digital Twin technology, and Social Robotics. His interest also leans towards how said technological innovations can be designed and implemented in such a way that human and public values are explicitly and adequately considered. He regularly reviews and/or publishes and presents his research contributions at conferences and journals (e.g., HICSS, ICIS, PACIS, AMCIS, PJAIS, JITTA, and BPM).

Abstract: An increasing number of Dutch provinces and municipalities are engaged in the experimentation of Digital Twin technology, which involves the creation of digital replicas of regions, areas, cities, and neighborhoods. The ultimate objective is to support spatial planning practices. Digital Twins hold significant promise due to their capacity to incorporate various areas of interest, such as biodiversity, mobility, heat stress, flood risk, sound levels, and more, within a dynamic 3D environment. Digital Twins also enable real-time manipulation of variables pertaining to these areas of interest.

At present, numerous independent initiatives involving Digital Twin technology are being pursued by Dutch provinces and municipalities; however, a lack of adequate collaboration exists among them. The Digital Twins lab at HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht aims to build and facilitate extensive cooperation among these Dutch provinces and municipalities. To achieve this, the lab conducts research on various aspects, including legal, technical, governance, and ethical considerations.

This presentation will primarily focus on the structure and functioning of the Digital Twins lab, the outcomes attained through our studies, and the valuable insights gained from this multi-year project.