Tatarstan’s Digital Twin: The Region Moves to a New Stage of Development
Tatarstan is building a comprehensive digital twin of its entire territory — an ambitious project that will transform how the region is managed. Led by the Ministry of Construction, Architecture, and Housing and Utilities, the initiative will create a precise 3D model of the republic, serving as a planning, management, and infrastructure development tool.
Building the Replica in Digits
Work on the digital twin has been underway for about two years, and is expected to be fully completed within the next two years. The project holds special significance for improving housing and utilities, territorial management, and infrastructure planning. Its foundation was the successful digital twin of Kazan, which is already more than 95% complete.
Digital twins are gaining momentum worldwide, especially in “smart cities” and regions. Tatarstan’s expertise could be exported to the federal level or abroad. Support for scaling is available through IT clusters and technology parks, such as the Bashir Rameev IT Park in Kazan, which has become a magnet for IT companies and startups.
Capturing Streets, Yards, and Buildings
In recent years, Tatarstan has steadily advanced toward a full regional digital twin. By 2023, the state urban planning information system (GISOGD RT) had incorporated 100% of general plans and land-use rules, along with 86% of territorial planning schemes.
At the international REBUS 2025 forum in August, Kazan Mayor Ilsur Metshin presented the concept of Kazan’s digital twin — a system that reflects the city and its processes in real time. The 3D model is based on a high-precision orthophotomap and panoramic imaging of 2,000 kilometers of streets. Its data source is the city’s comprehensive municipal geographic information system, which today includes over 20 million objects such as plans and regulations.
Smart city solutions have also played a vital role in this journey. Digitalization aids not only in urban design but also in city maintenance. Tools now monitor street cleanliness, road conditions, and lighting. Kazan has implemented smart traffic lights, surveillance cameras, and traffic sensors that have improved mobility: average travel speed has risen by 7%, while traffic accidents have dropped by more than 30%.
A Confident Step into the Future
The regional digital twin project is the logical next step after Kazan’s digitalization, building on existing infrastructure like GISOGD, IT parks, and smart city platforms. It could become central to implementing Russia’s “Digital Economy” national project and the broader “Smart Region” concept.
Creating Tatarstan’s digital twin is more than a technological initiative; it is a step into the future that will shape the region’s development for decades. It demonstrates how digitalization can be a tool for improving quality of life and achieving sustainable regional growth.
