The Role of Architects in the Age of constructing Smart City Digital Twins

Architecture is a discipline that has always been at the frontier of new emerging technologies. A good piece of architecture is not just a manifesto for the future of cities but also a demonstration of the current technological development of society. Today, Digital Twin Technology is moving forward from industrial manufacturing to building a smart city. The technology would help decision-makers to monitor and synchronize urban activities by creating a mirror reflection of the real-world urban structure in real time. It also provides an unprecedented opportunity for architects to rethink the daily activities in our urban-scape.  

Urban-scape and people’s daily life have been widely observed and studied by architects through film studies. The research would take films as an architectural toolbox and archive to explore ways that architects could work with the emerging Smart City Digital Twins Technology in order to shape better future cities.  

Rui Ma is a young architectural graduate who holds both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Melbourne. He has working experience in both architectural design companies and architectural cultural institutions. He also has a wide range of volunteer experiences within the discipline, such as the Open House Melbourne, the Open day of Robin Boyd Foundation, and the Melbourne City Forum.