Digital twins: An idea whose time has come

Digital twins are visual models of real-world objects. If you want to build a jet engine, a digital twin gives you a visual model that allows you to design and test a virtual engine before actually building a real one.

Digital twins can help cities do a better job providing public transport, electric power, emergency services and more. Instead of twinning a jet engine, we can now build a digital model of an entire city. Every streetlight, power station, and manhole cover can be monitored with a sensor and incorporated into a giant digital replica. This will provide a comprehensive view of the city’s operations, while helping cities manage their future expansion more intelligently.

Digital twins can also help cities bounce back from natural disasters. Click here to learn more.