How can digital twins help us to build sustainable cities?

The way we use land needs to be planned in a sustainable way. Issues related to water, sanitation, drainage and solid waste management need to be addressed. And spaces and infrastructures in cities need to be redesigned in the face of climate change. 

The SDGs were drawn up to make Earth more resilient to changing conditions. The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) #11 is to “make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable”. In achieving this, digital twins (DTs) may have an important part to play.

A city digital twin is a data-driven model that incorporates computational simulations and artificial intelligence (AI). As such, it allows us to assess the environmental, social and economic impacts of urban planning processes and decisions. 

City planners can use city digital twins to simulate and evaluate various scenarios, as a basis for making informed decisions about infrastructure, transportation and public services. DT’s can also contribute to smarter energy grids, traffic management and resource allocation – hence, more sustainable and efficient urban environments. What’s more, DT’s can empower citizens with real-time data for better navigation and interaction with the cities they live in or visit. 

In essence, city DTs can serve as transformative tools, shaping the cities of the future by enhancing their functionality, sustainability and liveability.

To learn about some of the needs and challenges of building a city digital twin, check out this article.