A Citiverse for everyone: How Sweden is setting the standard for inclusive Digital Twins

How do you build a digital world that truly works for everyone? You start by listening to those who face the greatest challenges. Claus Popp Larsen, researcher at RISE Research Institutes of Sweden and partner in the European Citiverses Uniting for Inclusiveness project, is doing exactly that. In this interview, Larsen shares how in-depth interviews with families and children with cross-diagnoses are shaping the design of Gothenburg’s inclusive digital twin layer, creating navigation tools that reduce stress and uncertainty for all citizens, whether they are residents or first-time visitors.

3DxVerse: Hi Claus. Thanks so much for your time. We are excited to talk to you. Could you quickly introduce yourself?

Claus: My name is Claus Popp Larsen. I work at RISE Research Institutes of Sweden on Smart City projects. One of the projects I am involved in is the European Citiverses Uniting for Inclusiveness

3DxVerse: Could you share an example of how you gather insights from marginalized voices? How does this directly influence the design and priorities of your digital twin?

Claus: Inclusiveness is the core focus of our project. The initiative is built around the lived experiences of families and children with cross-diagnoses.
To ensure we truly understand and support this group, we have conducted in-depth interviews with around ten families so far, and this process will continue. As we develop and refine our solution, we do iterative testing throughout the project, to ensure that it meets real needs.
Our approach is based on universal design, designing solutions that can be used by everyone from the outset. A simple example is the electric toothbrush: originally designed to support people with disabilities, it is now widely used by many. In the same way, we want the Citiverse to be inclusive by design.
In Gothenburg, the solution functions as an accessibility layer within the city’s existing digital twin. It helps residents and visitors prepare for visits to new locations in advance, reducing uncertainty and stress for visitors who may find unfamiliar environments overwhelming. It also improves both indoor and outdoor navigation.
The key principle is to integrate accessibility and universal design from the beginning, rather than building something first and later attempting to retrofit accessibility solutions. Inclusiveness should not be an afterthought, it should be foundational.

3DxVerse: Your project emphasizes uniting. How are you building a coalition of partners across Europe to establish widely adopted accessibility standards?

Claus: Our use case is centered in Gothenburg, and around this we have brought together a broad coalition of partners with complementary expertise. This includes specialists in social inclusion, AI, digital twins, and citizen engagement.
We aim to align with European Union frameworks and initiatives such as OASC, including emerging interoperability mechanisms.
As part of the emerging European Citiverse ecosystem, the project contributes to interoperable building blocks aligned with the Local Digital Twin (LDT) Toolbox and open standards, supporting a scalable and human-centric digital infrastructure for cities.
At the same time, we also seek to contribute to the development of new standards.
While accessibility standards exist, there are still gaps when it comes to digital inclusiveness within Citiverse environments. We are currently identifying which standards need to be strengthened or created to ensure that future Citiverse developments follow shared principles that prioritize accessibility.
Our goal is to leave a lasting footprint so that inclusiveness becomes a consistent requirement across European digital twin initiatives.

3DxVerse: How does lowering thresholds for physical visits through digital twins create tangible value for cities and their residents?

Claus: One key example is wayfinding, helping people move from point A to point B.
Conventional navigation tools, such as Google Maps, work well for many people. However, they often do not account for physical impairments, mobility challenges, stress triggers, or neurodivergent needs. For someone using a wheelchair, experiencing knee pain, or feeling overwhelmed in certain environments, traditional navigation tools may not be sufficient.
By improving both indoor and outdoor wayfinding, we can create more accessible navigation systems.
This again connects to universal design. When you design solutions for those who face the greatest challenges, many others benefit as well. Inclusiveness strengthens usability for everyone.

Read more about the European Citiverseses Uniting for Inclusiveness here or check out the project’s LinkedIn.