The Datalab team from the University of Salento has taken first place in the Citiverse Challenge — an international competition promoted by the United Nations focused on developing digital infrastructures for future cities.
The interdisciplinary research team from the Department of Innovation Engineering presented Digital Heritage Nexus, a platform that combines artificial intelligence, augmented and virtual reality, IoT sensors, and digital twins to enhance cultural heritage and improve urban tourism management.
Developed using Lecce as a pilot case, the platform allows users to digitally explore landmarks, book guided tours, and enjoy personalized experiences, even in locations that are physically inaccessible. Scalable and based on open standards, the solution fosters collaboration between public and private sectors.
UniSalento’s victory came after standing out among 201 global teams and delivering the final pitch before a UN jury during a worldwide webinar. The award ceremony took place in Turin during the UN Virtual Worlds Day.
“This project is the result of three years of research on digital twins and cross-disciplinary cooperation,” said team mentor Antonella Longo. “It’s a recognition of the value of working across disciplines and of a sustainable vision for the digital future.”