A Lightweight Replicable Local Digital Twin Workflow for Small Cities Using Open Data and Web-Based 3D Visualization

Small municipalities often lack the resources and infrastructure necessary to implement advanced digital twin solutions commonly adopted in larger cities or industries. This study addresses the challenge of designing a replicable and interoperable local digital twin architecture specifically suited for low-infrastructure environments. A gap in the current literature and practice is identified: most digital twin implementations are domain-specific, resource-intensive, or proprietary, which limits their applicability in low-infrastructure contexts such as small rural areas. To address this issue, a requirement-driven architecture based on open standards and minimal-footprint, edge-based technologies is proposed. The approach is validated through real-world implementation in Codogno, Italy, with subsequent replication in Varna, Bulgaria, and Lausanne, Switzerland. The findings indicate that the proposed architecture can be deployed with minimal local infrastructure while maintaining interoperability with existing systems and enabling scalability to larger contexts. Interoperability is achieved through standardized data models and APIs, while replicability is ensured by a modular design utilizing open-source components. These contributions offer a practical blueprint for small municipalities to develop local digital twins, thereby supporting digital transformation at the community level.