Abstract
Digital twins are increasingly adopted in urban governance to simulate and manage city systems. However, citizen participation in their development remains limited, undermining democratic legitimacy and inclusiveness. This study investigates the barriers and enablers of citizen participation in urban digital twin projects through a mixed-methods approach combining a systematic literature review and a survey of 215 urban planners, technologists, and community representatives across Europe. Quantitative analysis identifies three key barriers: technical complexity, lack of digital literacy, and institutional resistance. Enablers include participatory design frameworks, transparency mechanisms, and co-creation workshops. Qualitative findings highlight trust deficits and power asymmetries as critical challenges. The study contributes a conceptual model linking barriers and enablers to participation outcomes, offering actionable recommendations for policymakers and practitioners. Results underscore the need for capacity-building, open data standards, and iterative engagement to foster inclusive digital twin governance.
Keywords
digital twin, citizen participation, urban governance, barriers, enablers, smart city, co-creation, digital literacy