The Role of Digital Twins in Sustainable Urban Planning

By: Brij B. Gupta, Department of Computer Science and Information Engineering, Asia University, Taichung 413, Taiwan. Email: bbgupta@asia.edu.tw

Abstract

In the quest for sustainable urban development, digital twins emerge as a pivotal technology, offering a transformative approach to urban planning. This blog post delves into the intricate role digital twins play in fostering sustainable urban environments through their ability to create dynamic, virtual replicas of physical city infrastructures and processes. By integrating data analytics, IoT, and AI, digital twins facilitate real-time monitoring, predictive analytics, and the optimization of resource allocation, thereby addressing key urban challenges such as environmental sustainability, infrastructure resilience, and efficient urban management. Through case studies and examples, we explore the successful implementation of digital twins in various cities, highlighting their significant contributions to reduced carbon emissions, enhanced energy efficiency, and improved public services. This discussion not only underscores the advantages but also navigates through the barriers to adoption, setting the stage for future innovations in smart city initiatives and the broader spectrum of sustainable urban planning.

Introduction

Digital twins are a transformative technology that has gained significant momentum in various fields, particularly in manufacturing, urban development, healthcare, and smart city applications. The concept of digital twins involves creating a virtual representation of a physical object, process, or system, allowing for real-time monitoring, analysis, and optimization [1]. The technology has evolved over the years, with its inception dating back to 2002, and has since been continuously developed and implemented in different sectors [2].

Initially introduced in 2002, digital twin technology has seen significant advancements, with NASA and the US Air Force adopting it as a new paradigm for their vehicles in 2012 [3]. Companies like Siemens, General Electric, and Dassault began embracing and promoting digital twin technology around 2014, signifying its acceptance and adoption in the industry [4]. The technology has become a focal point for both industry and academia, with its potential to revolutionize processes in design, construction, operation, and maintenance [5].

Digital twins have been applied in various domains, such as smart manufacturing, urban development, and healthcare, showcasing their versatility and impact across different sectors [6]. By integrating technologies like cloud computing, the Internet of Things, and big data, digital twins enable the interaction between physical and virtual spaces, enhancing decision-making and operational efficiency [7]. Furthermore, digital twins have been utilized in livestock farming to predict animal behaviors and optimize farming practices [8].

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References

  1. Y. Lu, C. Liu, K. Wang, H. Huang, & X. Xu, “Digital twin-driven smart manufacturing: connotation, reference model, applications and research issues”, Robotics and Computer-Integrated Manufacturing, vol. 61, p. 101837, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rcim.2019.101837
  2. D. Jeong, M. Baek, T. Lim, Y. Kim, S. Kim, Y. Leeet al., “Digital twin: technology evolution stages and implementation layers with technology elements”, Ieee Access, vol. 10, p. 52609-52620, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1109/access.2022.3174220
  3. A. Farhadi, S. Lee, E. Hinchy, N. O’Dowd, & C. McCarthy, “The development of a digital twin framework for an industrial robotic drilling process”, Sensors, vol. 22, no. 19, p. 7232, 2022. https://doi.org/10.3390/s22197232
  4. H. Zhang, Z. Zheng, & H. Yu, “Design of intelligent and connected vehicle driving system based on digital twin”,, 2022. https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-1849997/v1
  5. A. Fuller, Z. Fan, C. Day, & C. Barlow, “Digital twin: enabling technologies, challenges and open research”, Ieee Access, vol. 8, p. 108952-108971, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1109/access.2020.2998358
  6. B. He and K. Bai, “Digital twin-based sustainable intelligent manufacturing: a review”, Advances in Manufacturing, vol. 9, no. 1, p. 1-21, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40436-020-00302-5

Cite As

Gupta B.B. (2024) The Role of Digital Twins in Sustainable Urban Planning, Insights2Techinfo, pp.1

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