In recent years, digital twin (DT) technologies have increasingly been adopted by cities seeking to evolve towards digitally enabled, data-driven urban systems. This article synthesises academic literature and practitioner reports to examine how digital twins have been used in the design, implementation, and ongoing development of digital twin smart cities. Methodologically, the study is using systematic literature review based on PRISMA, which is an integrative review of peer-reviewed research and leading real-world case studies from municipal practice. 43 literatures were screened covering 36 academic papers and 7 practitioner articles. After outlining key digital twin technologies and their role in urban transformation, the paper analyses prominent real-life implementations to illustrate current capabilities and practical applications. It then critically discusses the main challenges and limitations of digital twin smart cities, including data governance, interoperability, privacy, scalability, and citizen acceptance. The article concludes that while digital twins hold substantial potential for more resilient, efficient, and sustainable cities, their long-term success will depend as much on robust governance, social legitimacy, and participatory engagement as on technological innovation.
- Open Access
- Review
From Digital Twins to Digital Twin Smart Cities: City Planning Using State-of-the-Arts Technology
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Received: 06 Nov 2025 | Revised: 18 Mar 2026 | Accepted: 23 Mar 2026 | Published: 29 May 2026
Abstract
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