Embracing over two decades of experience across different industries, such as technical, sales, and sales management roles, Rajiv’s expertise has been instrumental in the facilitation & adoption of global best practices of CAD/CAM/PLM solutions.

What makes a smart city?

A smart city is more than an urban area—it is a vision for the future where quality of life is enhanced while reducing environmental impact. By incorporating green spaces, renewable energy through solar panels, urban farms, efficient transport systems, and effective waste management, smart cities embody resilience and sustainability. These elements not only address the pressing environmental challenges but also foster innovation, economic growth, and community well-being.

Through advanced simulation, data analytics, and digital twins, we empower city planners to model, test, and optimize urban solutions before implementing them. This approach ensures that smart cities are adaptable, efficient, and truly aligned with the evolving needs of their inhabitants. At Dassault Systèmes, we remain committed to supporting this transformative journey toward smarter, greener and more resilient cities globally.

Elaborate on the role of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in creating a smart city.

At Dassault Systèmes, we recognize that Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) are at the heart of building smart cities, offering powerful tools to transform urban environments into more sustainable, efficient, and livable spaces. ICTs, particularly through virtual twins, bridge the gap between digital technologies and physical infrastructure, allowing cities to evolve with precision and foresight.

Virtual twins, as part of our 3DEXPERIENCE platform, create dynamic digital replicas of real-world systems. This allows cities to monitor, analyze, and optimize everything from urban planning and construction to operations and maintenance. With real-time data gathered from sensors embedded throughout the city, virtual twins provide a deep understanding of how a city functions, enabling better decision-making and resource management.

Through the power of ICTs, we enable collaboration across public and private sectors. Construction teams, city planners, and citizens can work together more effectively, improving overall project efficiency and ensuring that developments align with the needs of the community. Virtual twins also empower cities to simulate and test new solutions digitally before implementation, reducing waste, minimizing defects, and ensuring that the outcomes are optimized for both sustainability and performance.

This holistic approach ensures that smart cities are not only technologically advanced but also adaptable and resilient. By leveraging ICTs, smart cities can innovate and evolve in response to growing urban challenges, promoting a future where urban development is more sustainable, connected, and collaborative

Tell us about the power of nature-based solutions in enhancing the city into a smart, sustainable, and resilient

We strongly advocate for the power of nature-based solutions in enhancing cities to become smart, sustainable, and resilient. These solutions, rooted in the principles of the circular economy, fundamentally reimagine how urban areas are designed and developed, positioning sustainability as the core driver of progress. By working with nature, rather than against it, cities can address environmental challenges while improving the quality of life for their inhabitants.

Through our 3DEXPERIENCE platform, we provide architects, urban planners, and engineers with the tools to collaboratively design cities that are not only smarter but also greener. Virtual models allow teams to simulate and test materials, assess their environmental footprint, and explore the recyclability of resources long before they are physically implemented. This digital approach helps create more efficient solutions for urban challenges, whether it’s optimizing energy use, reducing waste, or integrating green spaces that enhance biodiversity and reduce heat islands in dense urban areas.

Nature-based solutions go beyond infrastructure—they influence mobility, resource management, and resilience. For example, the integration of green infrastructure, such as urban forests, green roofs, and sustainable water management systems, helps cities mitigate environmental impacts, while building resilience against future challenges like climate change and extreme weather events.

By leveraging technology to incorporate nature into urban design, cities can thrive sustainably. At Dassault Systèmes, we are proud to empower urban innovators with digital tools that make this vision possible, ensuring that future cities are not only smart but also deeply attuned to the environment and resilient in the face of change.

What factors drive policy transfer in smart city development?

Policy transfer plays a crucial role in accelerating smart city development. It is not simply about replicating technologies from one city to another, but rather about sharing knowledge, governance models, and innovative urban strategies that can be adapted to fit the unique needs of different cities. By learning from the experiences of others, cities can more effectively address their challenges and pursue smarter, more sustainable development paths.

Several key factors drive policy transfer in smart city development. First, technological innovation is a powerful enabler. Cities can leverage advancements such as data-driven planning, digital twins, and IoT solutions to optimize urban design and operations. Second, knowledge sharing is critical—cities can gain valuable insights by participating in regional or international smart city networks that act as repositories of case studies and best practices. These platforms help cities learn from one another’s successes and failures, adapting proven solutions to their specific contexts.

Collaborative governance is another key driver. Partnerships between cities, private organizations, and academic institutions foster cross-sector collaboration and allow for the transfer of policies that promote smart urban governance. By engaging with external expertise, cities can address uncertainties and develop resilient solutions more quickly.

How are IoT and data paving the way from a traditional city to a smart city?

The Internet of Things (IoT) and data are revolutionizing the shift from traditional to smart cities by fundamentally reshaping how urban environments are understood and managed. IoT devices, embedded across infrastructure, collect real-time data on everything from energy use and traffic patterns to air quality and public services. This constant flow of information provides city authorities with insights into the functioning of urban systems, but the real value comes from how this data is applied.

When city systems are integrated, the data collected offers a comprehensive view of urban operations, allowing for more informed decisions. It improves collaboration across departments and helps tackle urban challenges more efficiently. IoT also enhances citizen engagement by offering real-time services, such as traffic updates and smart parking, while informing policy decisions with precise data-driven insights.

Moreover, with the advent of virtual twins—digital replicas of city infrastructures—urban authorities can simulate scenarios, test policies, and plan territories more effectively. These digital models provide a way to anticipate and mitigate crises; ensuring cities become more resilient and adaptable to future challenges.

Mention a few requirements for smart cities?

For a city to become smart, several essential components must come together, including robust infrastructure, efficient governance, and advanced technological tools. One key requirement is a well-integrated infrastructure that allows for seamless connectivity and the collection of real-time data. This includes everything from energy grids to transportation systems, all of which need to be optimized for efficiency. Our 3DEXPERIENCE platform supports cities in enhancing these infrastructures by providing a digital environment where planners can model, simulate, and visualize city systems, making it easier to manage resources and improve operations.

Crafting today the smart city is a way to craft a future where sustainability & technology join forces together to create a responsible and mindful urban landscape

Another critical aspect is governance that is responsive and data-driven. Smart cities thrive on informed decision-making, which is why technologies like virtual twin experiences are vital. These digital replicas of physical infrastructures enable authorities to simulate scenarios, optimize development plans, and prepare for future challenges, all while promoting sustainability and resilience.

What are the challenges faced in transforming a city into a smart city? How can we overcome them?

Transforming a city into a smart city is no small feat, as it requires overcoming significant challenges posed by the complexity of urban environments. Cities consist of interconnected systems—transportation, energy, waste management, healthcare, and more—that must work seamlessly to support the needs of a growing population. With projections showing that two-thirds of the global population will live in urban areas by 2050, it is critical that we ensure these cities remain sustainable, livable, and resilient.

One of the main challenges lies in managing these diverse systems in a way that promotes efficiency while reducing environmental impact. To address this, cities need to adopt a multi-disciplinary approach, treating urban spaces as integrated ecosystems driven by data and resource optimization. At Dassault Systèmes, we help cities tackle these challenges through our 3DEXPERIENCE platform, which offers virtual twins—digital replicas of physical systems that allow planners to simulate, test, and optimize infrastructure. This technology provides a comprehensive view of how urban systems interact, enabling more informed decisions that can improve quality of life and minimize environmental strain.

What is the present and future of Smart Cities?

The present and future of smart cities are shaped by the urgent need to address challenges arising from rapid urbanization, sustainability demands, and the impacts of climate change. Today, cities are moving beyond the simple digitization of existing infrastructure and are focusing on creating interconnected, resilient urban ecosystems that enhance both livability and sustainability while managing costs.

One of the most powerful tools driving this evolution is virtual twin technology. Already transforming sectors like construction and urban planning, virtual twins enable cities to model, simulate, and optimize systems—from energy consumption and waste management to transportation networks and infrastructure upgrades. This allows cities to reduce their carbon footprint, enhance energy efficiency, and streamline resource use in ways that were not previously possible.

Looking at the future, where cities become denser and more complex, and the reliance on technologies like virtual twins will only increase. Planners will use these digital models to simulate everything from energy flows to transportation needs and even to predict infrastructure transformations. This will not only foster greater collaboration between designers, builders, and city authorities but also ensure that urban development remains sustainable, adaptive, and responsive to changing needs.