The concept of a digital twin is not new, despite the geospatial industry giving it buzzword status. In fact, NASA originated the concept in the 1960s to aid in the survival of the Apollo 13 crew by simulating procedures in a virtual setting before implementing them in the real world.
Yet since those early days, a lot has changed. A digital twin is still a fictional world that simulates actual space. Technology advancements, vast data collecting capabilities from real-time sensors, artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning, however, give the idea fresh start. The development of the internet of things (IoT) in particular is assisting in the transformation of digital twins into “living” (and adapting) digital environments with significant real-world applications, such as production line analysis and smart city simulations to address urban problems. Digital twins are even able to replicate the orientation, form, location, gesture, and motion of moving physical objects when accompanied by linked sensors.
The creation of digital twins for cities involves collecting and processing large amounts of data. Laser scanning technology is a powerful tool that can capture precise and detailed data about the physical features of a city. Laser scanners emit laser beams that bounce off objects and return to the sensor, creating a detailed point cloud of the environment. The data captured by laser scanner can be used to create 3D models of buildings, roads, terrain, and other urban features.
The use of laser scanning technology in creating digital twins for cities offers several advantages. One of the most significant advantages is the ability to capture accurate and detailed data about the physical environment. This data can be used to create highly accurate 3D models of the city, which can be used for a range of purposes, from urban planning to disaster response.
For predictive learning, sophisticated digital twins have begun to apply AI and machine learning algorithms. One conceivable use of a digital twin is to digitally trace the real-time flow of items through a supply chain using IoT sensors. That same technology can now assist process enhancements thanks to AI and machine learning.
For a long time, manufacturing and, more recently, healthcare and pharmaceutical applications dominated the digital twin market, but excitement in the construction industry is at an all-time high.
According to Mordor Intelligence, the digital twin market was valued at $10.27 billion in 2021 and is predicted to reach $61.45 billion by 2027, with a CAGR of 34.48% from 2022 to 2027. While manufacturing has begun to adopt digital twin technologies, building has mostly remained a 2D business hungry for technological innovation, according to the paper. Off-site professionals may now access on-site views through digital twins to evaluate current project progress, respond to concerns, and avoid costly rework.
Furthermore, the report’s authors stated that rising demand for digital twins by building and infrastructure owners and operators will offer new market possibilities for digital technologies and AEC sector digitalization.
Building information models (BIM), 2D information, timetables, contracts, construction papers such as submittals, and operational data acquired by embedded sensors can all be included in digital twins. After assets are deployed or construction is completed, a digital twin may be kept up to date with continuous operational and process data, such as maintenance and performance records and IoT sensor data.
The surveyor’s position in the evolving digital twin world has shifted dramatically. Advances in data collecting and processing are expanding the importance of surveys beyond merely gathering information in the field. Aerial data, laser (lidar) scanning, and mobile mapping equipment are being used by surveyors to create extremely detailed digital twin models that replicate the contemporary real environment.
The model functions as a fully integrated ecosystem in which planners, designers, engineers, and field workers may collaborate. This type of digital cooperation guarantees that everyone understands the current state based on shared data, reducing mistakes and costly rework and laying the groundwork for real digital twin representations that can be used to manage and enhance physical assets.
In many circumstances, it will be the surveyor’s role to assure the spatial integrity of everything constructed during a project—essentially, the production of the spatial digital twin. A digital twin is a virtual version of its physical counterpart; a spatial digital twin augments the model with a comprehensive, dimensionally accurate, and location-based representation.
In conclusion, the use of 3D laser scanning services technology in creating digital twins for cities offers numerous advantages. Laser scanning can capture highly accurate and detailed data about the physical environment, which can be used to create 3D models of cities. These digital twins can be used to improve urban planning, design, and management, as well as enhance disaster response, transportation planning, and infrastructure management. The creation of digital twins for cities represents a significant advance in the use of technology to improve the quality of life in urban areas, ultimately leading to more sustainable, resilient, and livable cities.