Parma Climate Neutral 2030

Parma has chosen with conviction and determination to put environmental sustainability and the path towards the progressive decarbonization of the territory at the center of its local policies.

A commitment jointly supported by the city, businesses and various entities in the area. The carbon neutrality document was in fact signed by 46 entities including businesses, public and investee companies, associations and institutions. The objectives include more than 130 concrete and measurable actions: governance interventions, operational guidelines, behavioral practices and strategic investments needed to achieve the goal of climate neutrality by 2030.

The benefits of this commitment are many: greater protection of citizens’ health, reduced air and noise pollution, less traffic, more usable green spaces, an overall improvement in quality of life, and a boost to innovation. A decisive step toward making Parma a healthier, sustainable, inclusive, prosperous, and ultimately even more livable and attractive city for all.

Technological innovation plays a crucial role: it is essential to systematize data that will guide decision-making processes that will enable the creation of city information collectors, useful for advanced analysis, forecasting and effective monitoring of the territory. An approach that will enable continuous and timely monitoring of the territory, supporting strategic decisions based on reliable data.

Using Geolander’s LiDAR laser scanner technology, high-precision surveys were carried out with a margin of approximation of a few centimeters. The result is an extremely detailed three-dimensional model, which allows not only to faithfully visualize the territory, but also to analyze and manage the objects present in the urban context.

The acquired point cloud is now available to the City of Parma, which can remotely access the digital model for accurate measurements and in-depth analysis of distances and objects.

Integration of solutions based on artificial intelligence, machine learning and deep learning, aimed at automated census of urban elements, such as street lighting poles, manhole covers and vertical signs, is also under development. This innovative approach enables more efficient management of city resources and ensures the continuous updating of the city’s digital model.

The digital twin makes it possible to visualize and analyze different levels of the city, facilitating the understanding of complex scenarios. In Parma, the project started with the integration of data already available from the municipality, which were aggregated and enhanced within the WiseTown platform.

Using a middleware system, the data were organized by type, synthesized and made interoperable. This made it possible to relate information from different systems, both internal and external to the administration, updated according to specific metrics based on usage. Data are brought together, overcoming the silo approach (environment, security, traffic…) to embrace an integrated, context-oriented view of use.

Information on residents, urban real estate units-whether commercial, housing or hospitality facilities-form the basis of the digital twin. In addition to these basic components, other spatial elements such as trees, streetlights and energy consumption data are added, along with population data useful for monitoring socio-economic distress.

All these data are integrated into a dynamic representation of the city, which can be consulted in two- or three-dimensional mode, depending on the needs of the administrators and stakeholders involved. The goal is to build a collaborative network that supports strategic and operational decisions in the digital transformation of the territory.

Presentation of the City of Parma’s Digital Twin:
Councillor Caterina Bonetti illustrates the potential of the digital twin platform developed for the city, an innovative tool to support urban planning, spatial data monitoring and improved citizen services.

An integral part of the project are dashboards, based on indicators selected by the municipality, designed to monitor the most strategic issues: from urban greenery to the relationship with the population and the territory, to the well-being of citizens. These tools make it possible to analyze in detail the composition of inhabitants, their distribution over the territory and socio-economic dynamics.

In addition to providing strategic support for decision-making, dashboards make it possible to analyze the evolution of phenomena over time and constantly monitor their progress, thanks to the integration of constantly updated data.

Parma’s Digital Twin proves to be a strategic tool for municipal government, providing valuable support to numerous operational areas.

Land management

It simplifies the activities of technical offices, reducing the need for physical inspections thanks to the possibility of carrying out checks and surveys directly on the digital model.

Urban infrastructure monitoring

Enables the census and digital management of elements such as storm drains, advertising installations, public lighting, street signs and street furniture, improving the efficiency of maintenance operations.

Prevention and management of environmental risks

The high-precision model enables the simulation of scenarios related to extreme weather events, facilitating the identification of the most vulnerable areas and the planning of preventive interventions.

Public green management

Through a “digital identity card” of trees, the health of the tree stock can be monitored and targeted maintenance activities can be planned.

Several areas of the municipal administration are already integrating the digital twin into their daily activities, including the areas of Digital Transition, Mobility and Transportation, Civil Defense, Heritage and Facility Management. Soon, access will also be extended to the Ecological Transition sector, further expanding opportunities for use and innovation.

Parma’s journey toward sustainability did not start today, but is part of a strategic path established over the years. As early as 2013, the city joined the Covenant of Mayors for Sustainable Energy, laying the groundwork for a series of actions aimed at reducing emissions.

In 2014, the city approved the Sustainable Energy Action Plan (SEAP), a document that identifies concrete goals for achieving a 20 percent reduction in CO₂ emissions by 2020.

In subsequent years, Parma strengthened its commitment by joining the Integrated Energy and Climate Pact in 2019, aligning itself with European targets for 2030.

In 2021, the Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plan (PAESC) was approved, with even stronger actions for cutting emissions and the city’s energy transition.

Parma is demonstrating how the Digital Twin can be a revolutionary tool for managing modern cities, making urban planning more efficient and improving the quality of life for its citizens. With advanced technologies and a forward-looking strategy, the city is building an innovative model that can inspire other local governments on their path to climate neutrality and sustainability.