The ASCEND project has been featured in the newly published SSPCR 2025 Book of Abstracts, presenting Munich’s experience with digital tools for stakeholder engagement in the development of Positive and Clean Energy Districts.
Published by Eurac Research, the book brings together contributions presented at the 2025 Smart and Sustainable Planning for Cities and Regions Conference, held in Bolzano, Italy. The conference convened 269 participants from 47 countries to examine how cities and regions can become more sustainable, resilient and inclusive. Its seven thematic tracks addressed energy transition, urban regeneration, sustainable mobility, just governance, the economics of decarbonisation, circular economy, and the application of data and artificial intelligence in urban planning.
Digital tools for an inclusive energy transition
ASCEND’s contribution - How digital tools can engage stakeholders: Munich’s digital twin and an interactive 3D print model, is written by Andreas Baernreuther and Stefan Synek from the City of Munich’s Department of Labor and Economic Development.
The abstract presents ASCEND’s work in Munich’s Harthof district, a residential area of approximately 6,000 inhabitants that was largely developed between the 1950s and 1970s. Many of its buildings require substantial energy renovation, making Harthof a relevant demonstration area for the transformation of existing neighbourhoods into Positive and Clean Energy Districts.
Through ASCEND, more than 20 solutions are being co-designed with municipal departments, research institutions, local businesses and residents. These include high-efficiency and serial building renovations, photovoltaic installations on roofs and façades, improvements to district heating, and electric-vehicle charging infrastructure.
The contribution emphasises that technical measures alone are not sufficient. Tenants, property owners and other local stakeholders are being involved through information events, surveys, advisory services and activities conducted directly in the district. These engagement formats support participation in renovation initiatives, energy communities and the planned district energy council.
Digitalisation provides an additional bridge between technical planning and public participation. ASCEND is developing a local monitoring framework that combines real-world data with simulation tools to assess energy performance, costs and social acceptance. Munich’s semantic 3D model can also be explored through virtual reality and an interactive physical model of Harthof. Users can select different data layers on a touchscreen, with the relevant buildings illuminated on the model.
By making complex energy and planning data tangible, these tools help residents and decision-makers understand proposed interventions, compare development scenarios and participate more effectively in the district’s transformation.
The Munich contribution demonstrates how urban digital twins can serve not only as technical planning instruments, but also as communication and engagement tools. This combination of integrated energy planning, transparent data visualisation and local participation is central to ASCEND’s objective of developing approaches that can be replicated in other European cities.
The SSPCR 2025 Book of Abstracts is recommended reading for municipalities, urban planners, researchers and practitioners working on climate-neutral districts, citizen participation and data-supported urban transformation. The publication is available below in a pdf format or accessible via this link.
