developing a nature-inspired design framework for self-regulating urban parks: a digital twin-based model for intelligent landscape management

Parisa Azimi, Sepideh Habibpour Mehraban

developing a nature-inspired design framework for self-regulating urban parks: a digital twin-based model for intelligent landscape management parisa azimi1, sepideh habibpour mehraban2 1- M.Sc in Enviromental Design2- M.Sc in Enviromental Design Abstract Urban parks have faced increasing challenges in recent decades, including climate change, resource limitations, growing management complexity, and rising user expectations. Under such conditions, conventional design approaches, which primarily focus on spatial organization or post-construction management, are no longer sufficient to address the need for adaptive and resilient urban spaces. Meanwhile, although nature-based design and digital twin technologies each offer significant potential for enhancing urban park performance, an integrated framework that combines these two domains within a coherent design methodology has not yet been clearly established. This study aims to address this research gap by proposing the SRUP (Self-Regulating Urban Park) framework as a conceptual approach for designing self-regulating urban parks. Through a qualitative approach based on the analysis and synthesis of scientific literature, this research integrates the principles of self-regulating natural ecosystems, nature-based design, systems theory, digital twin technology, and smart management into a unified conceptual model. The proposed framework consists of the SRUP-DM design methodology, a four-layer conceptual model, the SADAL operational cycle (Sense, Analyze, Decide, Act, and Learn), and the SPAF (Smart Park Assessment Framework) for evaluating the self-regulation capacity of urban parks. The main contribution of this research lies in transforming the digital twin from a merely managerial tool into an active component of the design process, enabling a continuous cycle of design, monitoring, decision-making, implementation, and learning. The proposed framework can serve as a foundation for developing a new generation of urban parks that, in addition to providing spatial and ecological quality, possess the ability to continuously adapt to environmental changes, optimize performance, and enhance urban resilience. Keywords : Self-Regulating Urban Park; Nature-Based Design; Digital Twin; Smart Park; Adaptive Design; Landscape Architecture