Tijuana’s 25th City Hall, led by Mayor Ismael Burgueño Ruiz, has received the Latam Smart City Award 2026 in the Digital Transformation category. The international recognition comes as a result of the “Urban Virtual Twin” pilot project, developed by the Metropolitan Institute of Planning of Tijuana (IMPLAN).
The award was accepted by IMPLAN Executive Director Juan Diego Mascareño López, who credited Mayor Burgueño Ruiz for his support in driving forward-looking initiatives that contribute to the city’s growth.
“I am grateful to Mayor Ismael Burgueño Ruiz for his vision to transform Tijuana,” Mascareño López said. “Thanks to that leadership, our city is moving toward new planning and development models that are now receiving international recognition.”
He also emphasized that participating in international forums of this kind allows Tijuana to learn from successful projects implemented in other cities and adapt best practices to strengthen local governance.
“This event gives us the opportunity to learn from successful experiences in other municipalities and governments. We can adapt those lessons to our own reality and continue developing innovative solutions that benefit Tijuana,” he added.
IMPLAN’s winning project stood out for its innovative use of advanced technology to enhance urban planning. It allows officials to simulate and visualize different development scenarios before breaking ground on physical projects, optimize land use, and predict how the urban environment will respond to various conditions using big data and digital intelligence.
The award was presented on June 3 during the Smart City Expo LATAM Congress, widely regarded as Latin America’s most important gathering for sharing experiences, innovation, and strategies focused on sustainable urban development, digital transformation, and improved quality of life in cities.
The international honor reaffirms the Tijuana municipal government’s commitment to using technological tools that strengthen decision-making and help build a more orderly, modern, and sustainable city, consistent with Mayor Ismael Burgueño Ruiz’s vision for transformation.
