IB Digital Society 4.3C Cities, Infrastructures, Built Environments, and Agriculture Key Definitions

A live digital model of a real physical system, such as a city or a factory, kept in step with reality by streams of sensor data. It lets people simulate and test changes in the model before making them in the physical world.

Software that stores, maps, and analyses data tied to locations as separate layers, such as roads, water, and land use. Layers can be combined and queried, turning raw geographic data into maps that support navigation, planning, and analysis.

A satellite-based navigation system that provides location and time information anywhere on Earth.

Farming that uses location data, sensors, satellite and drone imagery, and AI to manage a field in small sections rather than as one uniform block. Inputs such as water, fertiliser, and pesticide are matched to the specific need of each part of the field.

An urban area that uses networked sensors, data, and digital systems to run and optimise its services, such as traffic, energy, water, and waste. The aim is greater efficiency and quality of life, though it also raises questions about surveillance, data control, and who benefits.