In Russia, a Nationwide Digital Map of Cities Is Taking Shape
Russia is building a unified digital ecosystem for municipalities, drawing on the country’s most successful “smart city” experiments. The project aims to make AI tools, digital twins, and smart services a standard across urban life.
At the forum “Digital Transformation of Municipalities” in Lipetsk, city officials, IT leaders, and federal experts gathered to discuss how artificial intelligence and digital services are already reshaping life in Russian cities. The event centered on one ambitious initiative: creating a unified online map of Russian cities. This digital atlas will consolidate best practices in smart urban management and serve as a playbook for local governments nationwide.
The effort is being coordinated by the All-Russian Association for the Development of Municipalities. Its goal is to close the gap between legislation and real modernization, while adapting national strategies to local needs. Among the projects highlighted for nationwide rollout was “Smart Sarov” in the Nizhny Novgorod region, a suite of communication tools that link residents with city administrators and cover nearly all elements recommended by Russia’s Ministry of Construction for a “Smart City.”
The upcoming “Map of the Digital Future” will be a practical guide for municipalities, ensuring that advanced technologies—from healthcare diagnostics powered by AI to video analytics for public safety—become part of everyday life across the country.
