In addition to the main hot topics - AI, Blockchain, web 3.0, metaverse solutions - more interesting Smart City products and services were also presented in the Digital Cities Hall. The governments of Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabia also presented their Smart City developments at huge stands.

Truly motivating was to see that the leaders in these cities and countries recognized the potential and benefits of mobile mapping, the automation of mapping, and the automation of urban infrastructure monitoring, and are investing in these technologies accordingly.

Each of the mentioned exhibitors has taken significant strides towards BIM-based construction and Digital Twin. A complete "digital twin" model of the city of Dubai is already available, a new construction can only be based on plans created in BIM. This 3D plan is integrated into the city's geospatial database, thus creating an almost real-time digital 3-dimensional copy of the city.

Mapping is implemented with drones, aerial photographs, and mobile mapping devices. However, there are cases when the laser-scanned files have to be turned into models manually, but our company's developments give an excellent support for this.

The completed digital twin can be the basis of HD maps for self-driving cars and buses, and also helps drones to travel if all the spatial data of the buildings is available.

Further to the statically placed sensors, the city infrastructure is also monitored with camera systems attached to police cars, buses, public area surveillance cars, and data processing is supplemented with AI-based image recognition technology.

Exciting and promising to see all these solutions, which are also available at home, thanks to the developments of Hungarian companies. Their implementation is within reach and we trust that the recognition and will of the decision makers will arise soon. In the meantime, looking at the current level of the Arab states serves as a great "proof of concept".

Special thanks to the Embassy of Hungary in Abu Dhabi and to HEPA for their presence!🚀