Heerlen develops digital twin to enhance livability and safety

The grant application in the European Urban Initiative (EUI) program of the municipality of Heerlen has been approved. This means that the municipality will receive 5 million euros to increase livability and safety in Heerlen with a so-called "Social Digital Twin. We may consider winning the grant an achievement. There were 110 applications from 23 EU countries. Heerlen was among the 20 definitively selected and obtained the highest possible amount of subsidy. The theme of the application was deep tech. The municipality is working with many partners in the region for this project. 

Last October, Heerlen applied for a grant from the European Urban Initiative (EUI) to experiment with AI technology. Part of this is the development of a "Social Digital Twin" capable of better (digital) information visualization. This helps make important decisions for improving livability and safety in neighborhoods in Heerlen. What is unique is that no city in the EU has a 'Social Digital Twin' yet. Physical digital twins do exist, but the 'Social Digital Twin' is the first in Europe.

Smart and good handling of security

The 'Social Digital Twin' ensures a smarter and appropriate response to safety and livability in neighborhoods in Heerlen. An AI assistant provides the supportive 'deep tech colleague' of the people who are already working daily on liveability and safety in Heerlen. The 'Social Digital Twin' will be a virtual digital copy of all available information about a neighborhood. But then combined with the information of social safety and neighborhood management. This way we can use AI to quickly ask things and give employees advice, analysis and a possible plan or solution.

Mayor Roel Wever is very pleased with winning the grant: "This works quickly and efficiently. No 'Big Brother is watching you,' but working with a legitimate basis. Because it allows you to anticipate at an early stage, you can take into account planning, visions and everyday issues in the field of safety and livability. But residents and other stakeholders can also be properly informed what their contribution has yielded. In this way, the 'Social Digital Twin' promotes trust and cooperation, and thus social cohesion and livability. And of course I am very happy that we are doing this together with so many important partners. Everyone brings, their expertise to make this a success."

Cooperation in the region

In the coming months, each project will have its own web page with information on implementation and key learning points from experts of innovative actions. Led by the municipality, the initiation phase started April 1 together with the partners. Together with the lead experts, we will prepare everything well until October 1. Then we will start implementing and developing the "Social Digital Twin" step by step. The project will end on March 31, 2029.

The municipality's partners in the project are:

  • Police, Innovation Lab (Ilab)
  • Maastricht University - BISS
  • JENS
  • Dutch CPTED Chapter / Foundation for Safe Design and Management (SVOB).
  • Brightlands Smart Services Campus
  • Heerlen Buurtteams