Russia Builds a Digital Twin of Moscow to Forecast Its Urban Future

A new virtual model of Moscow combines AI, real-time sensor data, and 3D visualization to help urban planners predict and design the city's evolution.

Russia has unveiled 'MetaMoscow,' a digital twin of its capital city that blends 3D visuals with real-time analytics. The platform is more than a tourist guide — it’s a powerful planning tool that enables users to explore individual building facades and simulate how the cityscape might change over time.

The system’s realism stems from a massive data stream: over 170,000 surveillance cameras and inputs from 32 different municipal information systems. MetaMoscow gives users access to live data on air pollution, noise levels, weather conditions, and transit flows across the city. Built-in AI algorithms help city officials model and test future scenarios.

In a recent application, AI tools were used to relieve traffic congestion on Moscow’s central Sadovoye Ring Road. Neural networks recommended retiming traffic lights, modifying road markings, and opening new U-turn lanes. The result: traffic jams dropped by 18 percent, and average travel time fell by 10 minutes. Similar interventions are now planned for over 100 major streets and regional routes.

The system also supports drainage management. AI-driven models simulate flooding events, enabling utilities to anticipate and prevent emergencies in urban infrastructure.