METROPOLIS: AI‑Powered Urban Digital Twins for Data‑Driven Cities

About the project

About the Project Ariel University invites applications for three PhD scholarships within the METROPOLIS project. The successful candidates will join the Architectural Artificial Intelligence Research Lab (AAIRL) in the School of Architecture to undertake research at the intersection of urban analytics, AI, GIS, and urban planning . Research environment The PhD researchers will be hosted by AAIRL , a research lab within Ariel University’s School of Architecture focusing on the development and application of AI methods to the built environment and urban systems. Candidates will work within a multidisciplinary setting, collaborating across various domains. The project offers opportunities to engage with real-world urban stakeholders and datasets through the Tel Aviv pilot deployment , and to contribute to research outputs with practical impact, including publishable methods, prototypes, and deployable software components. Doctoral candidates will be integrated into the university research community, benefiting from academic supervision, regular research meetings, and supported by the Israeli Ministry of Science and Technology grants. Project description Cities face numerous challenges in achieving sustainable growth, enhancing climate resilience, improving energy efficiency, managing transportation, and promoting social inclusion. Urban Digital Twins (UDTs) are virtual representations of urban systems that combine real-world data with simulation and predictive modeling, offering significant potential to support evidence-based planning and governance. Despite this promise, many existing UDT implementations remain fragmented and bespoke , with limited interoperability between data sources and tools, which constrains adoption, scalability, and transferability across cities. The METROPOLIS project will develop an interoperable, AI-based UDT framework designed for rapid deployment and adaptation in different urban contexts. A central goal is to provide robust, transparent, and usable tools to support the work of planners, policymakers, and other stakeholders. A major pilot deployment in Tel Aviv will be used to validate the framework’s technical performance, usability, governance relevance, and potential for replication in other cities. Available PhD positions: 1) PhD: Interoperable Data Infrastructure and Harmonisation This PhD will focus on the design and development of the data backbone for the Urban Digital Twin, enabling systematic integration of heterogeneous datasets and supporting reusable, standards-aligned workflows. Indicative topics include data harmonization and integration pipelines, spatial-temporal data management, interoperability across GIS–BIM–IoT ecosystems, metadata and provenance, and scalable APIs and architectures for city-scale data. 2) PhD: Urban AI Models (Mobility, Climate, Energy, Morphology, Optimisation) This PhD will develop AI models and evaluation methodologies that enable prediction, scenario analysis, and optimisation for urban decision support within the digital twin. Indicative topics may include mobility analytics and forecasting, urban energy modeling, climate and heat risk-related modeling, urban morphology and form analysis, multi-objective optimization for planning scenarios, and robustness and generalization across neighborhoods and cities. 3) PhD: User Experience and Explainable AI (XAI) for Urban Digital Twins This PhD will address the design of user-facing tools and interaction paradigms that make Urban Digital Twins practical, interpretable, and trustworthy for real-world stakeholders. Indicative topics include stakeholder-centred UX research, interactive geospatial interfaces and scenario exploration tools, explainable AI methods for spatial decision-making, uncertainty communication, and human-in-the-loop decision workflows. Funding and scholarship details Tuition fees: Fully covered. Monthly stipend: NIS 5,000–6,000 per month (Ariel University funding) plus approximately NIS 4,000 per month supported by Ministry of Science research grants, subject to satisfactory progress and applicable university/grant regulations. Accommodation: Student dormitories are available on campus; rental costs in Ariel are low. Duration and study mode Full-time or part-time PhD Expected duration: 3–4 years , depending on study mode and academic progress. Location Research will be based at Ariel University campus, approximately 30 minutes from Tel Aviv. The project includes activities related to the Tel Aviv pilot deployment. More information: https://campuscore.ariel.ac.il/wp/graduate-school/en/ Entry requirements Applicants should meet the following criteria: A Master’s degree from a recognised academic institution. Final Master’s grade above 85 and a thesis (or equivalent research component) grade above 85. Two academic recommendation letters from academics holding a PhD (can be provided late). Language requirements: English is mandatory (written and spoken). Hebrew or German is considered an advantage. Application procedure Applications should be submitted by email and must include: Curriculum Vitae (CV), including a publication list (where applicable) Suitable candidates will be interviewed. Please send applications to: jonathand@ariel.ac.il Suggested email subject: “METROPOLIS PhD Application – Position [1/2/3] – [Applicant Name]” Timeline Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. We expect to fill the positions by the end of February .

Research areas