Smart City Expo World Congress 2025

SCEWC is an exhibition that has been held every year since 2011, gathering companies, public organizations, and universities etc. from 143 countries over the world with displays, presentations and panel discussions that promote urban innovations. With the theme “The Time for Cities” for 2025, various initiatives that promote sustainable and efficient urban development, such as urban evolution with the use of artificial intelligence (AI), were introduced.

Outline of Exhibits

Inside the “JAPAN Pavilion” hosted by general incorporated association Smart City Institute (SCI-Japan) from Japan, local governments and companies from Japan held display booths within the “Tokyo Pavilion” organized by Tokyo Metropolitan Government.
In this Japan Pavilion, the City Bureau of MLIT held a joint display on the bureau’s Project PLATEAU, with the three companies that developed the system using PLATEAU data and introduced the initiatives and solutions of PLATEAU.
The display booth was jointly organized by the City Bureau of MLIT, which promotes the overseas expansion of PLATEAU, and the three companies that develop and expand various simulations using its 3D urban model, FORUM8 Co., Ltd., Synesthesias Inc., and Eukarya Inc.
PLATEAU is a platform that enables all users, including private companies, to utilize the data developed by each city based on the specifications established by the national government. The layout allows visitors to easily understand this feature through a monitor introducing the overall image of PLATEAU and other monitors presenting the technologies and solutions of each company.

Display Contents of Each Booth

As an application utilizing PLATEAU, FORUM8 Co., Ltd. showcased in the left booth its VR software UC-win/Road and Metaverse platform, and introduced their characteristics and functions and expansion into various applications. In the display, a live demonstration was made to show a drive through experience in a VR space constructed by PLATEAU using a steering controller for games.

Synesthesias Inc. showcased in the center booth its own software City Vision as an urban planning and townscape visualization tool using PLATEAU, and introduced its application in the visualization of masterplans and design approach by local governments, and the acceleration of consensus building. Functions that can be used by developers in development simulation of building design such as height, color, materials, signboards, streetlights, and sidewalks were also introduced.

Eukarya Inc. showcasing in the right booth, introduced its own software Re:Earth, highlighting that the software is adopted as the technical basis of PLATEAU and can be used as a platform when building a 3D city model by each country. The company presented applications such as flooding simulations, and explained that related projects are underway overseas.

Presentation at JAPAN Pavillion

Presentations by exhibitor organizations and businesses, including Project PLATEAU, were conducted on the common stage inside JAPAN Pavillion. In the presentation, the City Bureau of MLIT introduced the characteristics, outcome of initiatives, and future application of PLATEAU. FORUM8 Co., Ltd. explained its expansion into various simulations using development software such as “UC-Win/Road”, which is based on PLATEAU. Furthermore, Eukarya Inc. introduced the technical basis of PLATEAU, “Re:Earth”, and its applications such as flooding simulations.

Taking the Stage in Congress/Panel Discussion

In one of the congresses (presentations/panel discussions) conducted on the multiple stages in the venue, the City Bureau of MLIT took the stage for Project PLATEAU. With the discussion theme “Virtual Reality, Real Insights: How Digital Models Predict Urban Futures,” discussions were made with digital twin experts from overseas cities on the possibility of predicting urban issues and conducting efficient urban management through digital twin technologies. Ms. Sogawa, Senior Deputy Director at MLIT, explained the overview and characteristics of Project PLATEAU. While presenting the practical domestic application of 3D city models in disaster prevention and urban development, she also addressed the potential for digital twins to forecast the urban risks and to serve as a foundation that supports better policy decision-making by sharing a common future vision of the city among the stakeholders.

Achievements of Exhibition

More than 27,000 people attended SCEWC2025 over three days (official HP). JAPAN Pavilion was visited by more than 5,300 people during the three days.

Project PLATEAU booth was visited by 367 attendees (based on data capture device) from public institutions and businesses across the world including Spain, Italy, France, and Saudi Arabia, with many repeat visitors interested in learning more about PLATEAU, drawing a large turnout within the JAPAN Pavilion.

Many of the visitors showed interest in the implementation structure and the expanding ecosystem of the initiatives promoted under public-private partnerships, under which the national and local governments promote the development of specifications and data of 3D city model, while private businesses utilize the open data. Countries and businesses that are currently implementing digital twin projects are also showing interests in the high development potential in the structuring data of PLATEAU and standards unification of the global standard CityGML model. Many visitors were also attracted to the feasibility of PLATEAU’s light, low-cost simulations and its usability.

Furthermore, a number of local governments, businesses, and academic institutions indicated their interest to study and exchange ideas on PLATEAU and development using various companies’ simulation software as well as data unification. Moving forward, we will utilize the network established through the participation in this exhibition and continue to pursue our efforts in overseas expansion of our technologies and solutions associated with urban digital twins.