“To use technology sustainably, a mindset shift is needed. It’s up to us to live better. Data is key — through it, we can avoid future mistakes,” emphasized Prof. Ilieva.

The Director of the GATE Institute also presented how the Institute’s high-tech building was designed and constructed with sustainability and efficiency in mind. The building incorporates sensors and intelligent systems that collect and utilize data on solar analysis, wind flow (including areas of turbulence, stagnation, and acceleration), street network configuration, and other critical factors. All of this supports informed decision-making for optimal resource use and the creation of a sustainable urban environment.

During the talk, Prof. Ilieva also presented GATE’s project for building a Digital Twin of Sofia – an innovative model that uses real urban data to support the city’s sustainable development. This model enables:

• Infrastructure planning within the concept of the “15-minute city”
• Identifying suitable locations for building kindergartens and schools
• Running simulations and analyses for sustainable urban development

GATE Institute believes that the technologies are already here – the challenge before us is to apply them with consideration for people and the environment.