AI, including embodied AI in robotics and techniques like machine learning, can improve economic, social welfare and the exercise of human rights. Owing to the proliferation of AI in high-risk areas, the pressure is mounting to design and govern AI to be accountable, fair and transparent. How can this be achieved and through which frameworks? This is one of the central questions addressed in this special issue, in which eight authors present in-depth analyses of the ethical, legal-regulatory and technical challenges posed by developing governance regimes for AI systems.

Large-scale microsimulations are increasingly resourceful tools for analysing in detail citywide effects and alternative scenarios of our policy decisions, approximating the ideal of ‘urban digital twins’. Yet, these models are costly and impractical, and there are surprisingly few published examples robustly validated with empirical data. This paper, therefore, presents a new large-scale agent-based traffic microsimulation for the Barcelona urban area using SUMO to show the possibilities and challenges of building these scenarios based on novel fine-grained empirical big data.

Traffic management problems in any city are acute. Previously, this problem was solved by control centers, now such centers require modernization based on digital twins and artificial intelligence. The introduction of Intelligent Transport Systems allows solving the main problems of the transport network and effectively developing it. In this article, the cases of ITS implementation are analyzed, a reference model of the services of such a system is developed.

Digital Services for Europe is a practical strategy-building toolkit that helps ministers, mayors and directors (Chief Digital Officers and Chief Executive Officers) of municipalities and EU Member States to move towards a social and technical roadmap for digital services for all its citizens, in which collaboration at all levels of government and private sector are further enabled.

It aims at realizing user-friendly and cost-effective services that are citizencentered, where people have insight into and control over their data.

Urbanization and the growth of human population are leading to increased complexities in the interactions of citizens with public spaces, creating cities that must be more responsive to community dynamics. Despite the critical need for community-based city management, current decision-making approaches are often uninformed by the collective behavior of communities across time and in different locations.

Digital twins have generated a lot of hype recently but questions remain as to what the technology actually means and how to build one for smart cities.

The lack of unified models and frameworks for data fusions linking the physical and virtual data exchange can undermine the uptake of digital twin technology by cities that are increasingly challenged to tackle urban problems with advanced data-driven solutions.

In a world of digital advancements, the public sector must undergo a comprehensive digital transformation to enhance service delivery efficiency, improve governance, foster innovation and increase citizen satisfaction.

The European Union is playing a leading role and has been actively developing policy frameworks for the digitalisation of the public sector. This policy brief provides a general overview of the most relevant initiatives, regulations, and strategies of the European Union, which are shaping Europe’s digital future.

As part of the Support Services for EU Smart communities, the European Commission has the goal to “Increase Digitalisation Awareness & Readiness of EU Communities”. The aim of this initiative is to support EU communities at the early stages or that have not yet begun their digital transformation journey by providing resources, best practices, and training to develop digital strategies.

As part of the Support Services for EU Smart communities, the European Commission has the goal to “Increase Digitalisation Awareness & Readiness of EU Communities”. The aim of this initiative is to support EU communities at the early stages or that have not yet begun their digital transformation journey by providing resources, best practices, and training to develop digital strategies.

As part of the Support Services for EU Smart communities, the European Commission has the goal to “Increase Digitalisation Awareness & Readiness of EU Communities”. The aim of this initiative is to support EU communities at the early stages or that have not yet begun their digital transformation journey by providing resources, best practices, and training to develop digital strategies.