Integrating digital twins, BIM, and GIS for urban health equity

Advancing smart and sustainable healthcare planning

Bibliographic Data

ID19486643
AuthorsYitong Dong (0000-0002-7069-3725, University of Nottingham Ningbo China), Rabee M Reffat (0000-0002-4158-2540, University of Nottingham Ningbo China, corresponding author), Runqi Liang (0000-0002-9812-1059, University of Nottingham Ningbo China)
Year2026
Volume144
Pages107429
Publication date2026-07-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueSustainable Cities and Society (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2210-6707 • E-ISSN: 2210-6715
PublisherElsevier BV (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1016/j.scs.2026.107429
OpenAlexW7155222120
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited140

Integrates DT–BIM–GIS-AI to enhance spatial equity and resilience in healthcare planning. • Identifies digital barriers for vulnerable groups in China’s healthcare transition. • Demonstrates technology gains: 25% cost reduction and 84.9% facility siting accuracy. • Proposes inclusive digital health strategies aligned with Healthy China 2030 goals. • Recommends scalable, equity-focused frameworks for smart and sustainable cities. Ensuring equitable healthcare is a critical pillar of sustainable urban development, yet vulnerable populations, such as older adults, persons with disabilities, and low-income groups, risk exclusion from rapid digital transformation, which refers to the integration of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), and digital twins (DTs) into healthcare systems. This study investigates the integration of DTs, building information modelling (BIM), geographic information systems (GIS), AI, and IoT in healthcare planning, focusing on vulnerable groups in China. Through a systematic review, the analysis reveals three key findings. First, older adults, persons with disabilities, and low-income groups face persistent barriers in geographic access, digital literacy, and service navigation. Second, integrated DTs-BIM-GIS ecosystems demonstrate significant potential for enhancing spatial equity and accessibility outcomes. In the Santander Local DTs case, the use of Age-Friendly Neighborhood Index (AFNI) indicators resulted in a substantial improvement in neighborhood age-friendly accessibility, with the AFNI increasing from 12.15% to 23.03% under the proposed intervention. Third, international smart-city practices provide scalable models for inclusive innovation. The study synthesizes global and Chinese developments to identify gaps in socio-technical integration and equity-driven design. It proposes strategic recommendations, including adopting interoperable DTs-BIM-GIS frameworks, advancing digital inclusion programs, and embedding equity indicators in urban planning. The findings support designing inclusive, data-driven healthcare systems that align with the Healthy China 2030 agenda and global sustainability goals, ensuring vulnerable populations are not left behind

Digital health · Health care · Healthcare system · Smart city · Sustainable development · Urban planning · BIM and Construction Integration · Digital Transformation in Industry · Smart Cities and Technologies

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