Digital Twins and Geospatial Technologies: Trends and Developments
A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Earth Sciences".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 10 November 2025 | Viewed by 425
Special Issue Editors
Interests: eXtended Realities; 3D geovizualizations; geospatial web; smart mobility
Interests: eXtended Reality; smart heritage; digital documentation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The contents of this Special Issue reflect the growing convergence between digital twins and a broad spectrum of applications where geospatial technologies play a pivotal role. After considerable efforts and research, we have observed a compelling synergy between traditional and emerging technologies, paving the way for groundbreaking advancements within the digital twin ecosystem.
A digital twin ideally serves as an accurate virtual representation of a physical object, system, or process—behaving like its real-world counterpart by integrating advanced technologies that enable it to sense, think, and act in real time. Core technologies that underpin a digital twin typically include IoT for gathering real-time data through sensors and devices; AI and ML for data analytics, pattern recognition, comprehensive detection, and optimization; and AR/VR for immersive experiences.
Geospatial technologies are crucial not only in developing a digital twin—through mapping techniques such as photogrammetry and LiDAR—but also in enhancing its capabilities, particularly when spatial context, environment, or location-specific data are essential. Significant developments are emerging in diverse fields including smart cities and mobility, cultural heritage, tourism, construction, architectural design, urban planning, real estate, training and education, recreation, serious gaming, and digital environments in the metaverse era.
Prof. Dr. Konstantinos Evangelidis
Dr. Stella Sylaiou
Guest Editors
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Keywords
- smart cities, smart mobility, and smart heritage
- GPS and location-based services
- AI and ML for data analytics, prediction, and optimization
- Internet of Things and real-time data integration
- mapping techniques, photogrammetry, and LiDAR
- eXtended Realities, AR/VR, and immersive visualization
- metaverse
- three-dimensional geovisualizations and photorealistic maps
- spatial awareness, spatial web, and geospatial web
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