The 100th anniversary of Geddes’ book “Cities in Evolution” has just passed, and the authors of this paper present a contribution towards understanding “how” Geddes might address the paradigm of the “smart city”. Geddesian concepts have greatly revolutionized the design and building of modern cities around the world. As a botanist and a scientist, Geddes incorporated the concept of the appearance of gardens when designing towns. His success in pioneering the planning of his city of residence in Scotland inspired further involvement in designing towns and the renovation of old structures and buildings. His concepts regarding the planning and development of towns and cities have created a foundation of interest in research, professionalism, and educational development. This study analyses the concepts of space, communities, and smart cities, and repositions Geddesian ideas in contemporary learning strategies in relation to the wider political spectrum associated with the paradigm of smart cities. The authors explore the relevance of his thoughts and perspectives in the current design environment geared towards the creation of smart cities. The study also evaluates the challenges of developing smart cities in relation to Patrick Geddes’s ideas.

The article explores the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in “Digital Twin” models to facilitate urban decision-making processes. The authors examine the potential of digital twins, which are virtual replicas of physical systems, to optimise the planning and management of smart cities. AI, when integrated into digital twins, allows managing complex functions such as traffic, energy consumption and social behaviours to be simulated and monitored in real-time, so establishing a basis for more informed and timely decisions. The digital twin concept was originally applied to industrial manufacturing and has expanded to urban design. An effective digital twin must accurately represent physical reality and related processes, incorporating up-to-date data and using advanced AI models for predictions and simulations. This approach allows for more efficient and resilient urban management, improving responsiveness to unexpected events and facilitating long-term strategic planning. The Snap4City platform is presented as an example of implementing digital twins for smart cities. It integrates data from different sources, supports real-time analysis and visualisation, and enables AI-based operational and strategic management. Snap4City demonstrates significant benefits for public administrations, improving the efficiency of urban services and promoting sustainability and the well-being of citizens.