Abstract

The global shift to petroleum-based energy has a significant effect on urban development. The role of the oil and gas industry in fostering local economic growth is well-documented. The movement toward sustainable solutions is necessitated by the convergence of global trends, environmental pressures, and the drive for economic diversification, particularly in nations with high carbon footprints. To make urban energy systems last, we need to look at the environmental, financial, and social factors and push for policies that help use renewable resources and make energy supplies more efficient. This study employs a qualitative comparison methodology to explore sustainable approaches for preserving tangible built environment heritage in urban contexts, ensuring its transmission to future generations.Preserving computer-based materials, part of the broader digital heritage, is crucial for conveying the legacy of diverse communities and industries (UNESCO 2019). Employing digital twins (DTs), the study advocates for a management strategy that utilizes virtual replicas to steward cultural heritage. Digital twins serve as a sophisticated tool, offering an accurate virtual representation of physical heritage sites, facilitating conservation, and enhancing the visitor experience through immersive virtual tours.The authors aim to comprehensively understand the impact of the global transition away from oil on urban growth and the conservation of industrial heritage. It will achieve this by employing interdisciplinary approaches and digital technology. This study highlights technology’s important role in heritage preservation, acting as a foundation for urban sustainability and resilience. As a proof of concept, the research presents case studies demonstrating various uses of DT in heritage site management and preservation in multiple contexts. By leveraging digital tools such as digital twins and Internet of Things (IoT) sensors, this research aims to preserve heritage’s physical and computational dimensions while utilizing the heritage digital twin (HDT) ontology to distinguish digital simulations from the computational core, effectively addressing tangible and intangible aspects of heritage. These methodologies are pivotal in fostering a nuanced understanding and stewardship of cultural heritage in a post-oil urban landscape.