In this episode we discuss the concept of the Digital Twin, with Aurecon's NSW Asset Management Leader, Matt Aberline. The discussion charts a course from the underpinnings of building informational modelling, and digital design of assets, to the emergence of the Digital Twin as a platform for testing and experiencing changes in a digital replica of your city. The discussion addresses key opportunities for using a Digital Twin, what the benefits are and how you would commence your journey of adopting a Digital Twin for your city.

In this 'Quicktake' episode we unpack some issues that are leading to an emerging PlanTech agenda. Chris Isles, Director at Place Design Group, joins us in sharing a range of views around the intersection of our digital, physical and natural worlds, and how we plan for these now rapidly converging issues in our cities and towns.

Our second 'Essential Reading' episode takes us to London, as we discuss the Smarter Cities 2025 report with Mark Saunders, Director of the Centre of Excellence for Cities at Ferrovial. As we unpack this report we discover the robust business case modelling behind what could be the most comprehensive smart cities business cases available at the present time. The research shows the return on investment for multiple smart cities 'verticals', as well as future projected adoption of key technologies and their value contribution to government savings.

In our first 'Essential Reading' episode we chat with Calvin Chu from the Eden Strategy Institute in Singapore, and discuss the outcomes of their research contained in the report "Top 50 Smart City Governments." Our discussion with Calvin covers their methodology in establishing the criteria for city government ranking, the results of the scoring as well as the key insights coming from the data. Key issues discussed included smart city financing, governance and digital inclusion.

Continuing our series on smart cities 'Strategy', we chat with City of Canterbury Bankstown's Digital Innovation (Smart Cities) Program Manager, Petrhyce Donovan. This episode takes a deep dive into the City's "SMART CBCity Roadmap", which outlines their commitment and proposed action on smart cities. Key discussion points involved creating a meaningful smart cities governance structure for their organisation, criteria for smart cities project selection and their lengthy community engagement exercise focused on not leaving anyone behind on smart cities.

In the first of our 'Feature City' episodes we chat with Teresa McCallum, the Smart Cities Program Manager at the City of Christchurch, about their unique journey into the smart cities world. With a major earthquake in 2011 that catalysed a significant urban transformation, the foundations were ripe for an entire city rebuild with smart underpinnings, literally. Teresa shares the process, the strategies and the conditions needed to put Christchurch on the map as one of the most densely monitored places on earth!

Another in our 'Smart Cities Quicktake' series, we talk all things privacy with Frith Tweedie, Digital Law Leader with EY. Privacy is front of mind for both government and the community, and trust is the foundation. We ask Frith the question - "what is important in building a smart cities social license with the community?"

In our first 'Case Study' episode, we speak with Martin Darcy from Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council about the QCBD Smart Precinct project. A jointly funded deployment between the Council and the Australian Government, we talk about the process and the outcomes from preparing to deploy a suite of smart cities technology and data solutions incorporating public wifi, smart parking and lighting, environmental sensors, CCTV video analytics and 3D Digital City Modelling.

In this episode we tackle the question - "what are the core enablers of a smart city?" Whilst there are many enablers for smart cities, we highlight the seven core enablers and examples of what they look like. We also briefly touch on 'how' to embrace these enablers to ensure they help achieve the outcomes being sought by the community.

Continuing our series on 'collaboration', in this episode we discuss city/vendor relationships with Sean Audain, City Innovation Lead at Wellington City Council in New Zealand. Sean shares the smart cities journey at the city, and how vendors have taken part. We unpack some innovative procurement approaches and what the city has implemented to create a collaborative environment for working with technology partners.