What role do virtual twins play in a city’s evolution cycle?

The following article is excerpted from Building a Better and Sustainable Life, a whitepaper developed by Dassault Systèmes.

Cities, States and Territories have to operate across three key time spaces.

The long term with master plans where major transformations are defined, including the big structural projects
The on-going projects which align with the electoral agenda
The crisis times, which requires a combination of anticipation, fast response to ensure operational continuity and sometimes a fast build back after a situation like a pandemic, flood, fire or hurricane

“Today, most of policy makers operate primarily in reactive mode within their remit. To meet sustainability goals requires much deeper change. For cities to secure a consensus on the evolution of the built environment requires imagining it in the virtual world, before taking a decision. Imagine, create scenarios, work together: that’s what collaborative virtual twins are all about.” – Simon Huffeteau, Vice-President Construction, Cities & Territories, Dassault Systèmes

The collaborative virtual twins created in the 3DEXPERIENCE platform drive interaction between stakeholders, taking collaborative working to the next level. It is the most effective way for cities and territories to maintain control of their future by making it possible for the whole urban development ecosystem to brainstorm problems and decide together what actions need to be implemented. It integrates diverse sets of data, tools and workflows to ensure a sustainable and inclusive city or state.

“On-going interactions between the physical and the digital mobility world will drive continuous improvement, adapted to people needs.” – Henri Beringer, Transport & Mobility Consulting Director, Dassault Systèmes

They can do this thanks to a common data environment where all stakeholders involved in resolving issues can align and work together efficiently rather than in silos.

“Many companies need access to all the information cities may have about location, public services, urban development projects, green spaces, transport & mobility. They need to know what is in place and what type of services are needed. Collaborative Virtual twins will in fact become a new kind of public service. The same way people need water and food to live, city contributors will need virtual twin technology to develop more sustainable cities. The best organization to provide a virtual twin is the city itself, Dassault Systèmes is the trusted third party organization supporting the city.” – Simon Huffeteau, Vice-President Construction, Cities & Territories, Dassault Systèmes.

Sustainable urban development has entered a new era, impacted by demographic & regulatory pressures, climate change and a new scale of difficult-to-predict short and long-term challenges.