Pilot Journey
This page tracks the progress of all piloting projects within the LDT4SSC initiative — from application and onboarding through implementation and handover.
On this page
- Journey Overview — The 5 phases every pilot goes through
- Rounds — Three rounds of open calls
- Timeline — Interactive progress tracker
- Pilots — Browse all selected pilots
Journey Overview
Every pilot follows five main phases over an 18-month period:
Phase details (click to expand)
1. Pre-pilot — Pilots prepare and submit their application packages through the open call process. After evaluation and selection, they enter the grant preparation phase.
2. Onboarding — Selected pilots go through a structured training programme (Pilots Onboarding Package, D4.2) developed by WP4 in coordination with WP3 and WP2. Training covers the technical specifications, the methodological framework, and the available resources. Pilot support activities — including the helpdesk, monitoring tools, and quality assurance — are also introduced.
3. Implementation — Pilots follow the LDT4SSC methodology through its four phases: EXPLORE (ideation and use case mapping), VALIDATE (specifications and data governance), DEFINE (prototyping and architecture), and IMPLEMENT (deployment and integration). Pilot deliverables are produced along the way.
4. Contribution — Developed assets, tools, and lessons are contributed back to the Technical and Non-Technical resources, as well as to the LDT4SSC Assets Repository, enriching the ecosystem for future initiatives.
5. Legacy & Replication — Replication, scaling beyond the project, and handover of assets and services for long-term continuity.
Rounds
Pilots are selected through three rounds of open calls. Each round follows a journey of up to 18 months, but starts at different times.
Round 1
Round 2
Round 3
Timeline
The progress tracker shows the 21-month pilot journey with key phases and deliverable milestones. Toggle between the All Pilots view (relative months M1–M21) and a round view (absolute calendar months).
PD3 (Pilot Scope & Architecture), PD4 (Governance Scheme), and PD5 (Communication & Exploitation Report) have pilot-defined deadlines and will appear on this timeline once set, and agreed upon by pilot members and the LDT4SSC consortium.
Pilots
Work Strands
The pilots are organised across three interconnected work strands:
WS1: Technical Interconnection of LDTs
Linking and scaling digital twins that are already in place. Pilots focusing on connecting and integrating existing Local Digital Twin infrastructures to enable data sharing and interoperability across communities.
WS2: Creation of LDTs Based on Common Needs
Addressing shared urban or regional challenges (e.g., cross-border traffic, air pollution). Pilots developing new Local Digital Twins that address shared challenges and requirements across multiple communities.
WS3: Adding New Advanced AI-Based Tools to existing LDTs
Integrating AI-driven, value-added services to enhance existing LDTs and new services to the LDTs Toolbox. Pilots integrating artificial intelligence capabilities into Local Digital Twin systems for enhanced decision-making.