Digital Twins Deployed for Climate Planning
Dutch researchers are using a prototype 'digital twin' of Enschede to predict groundwater levels and improve climate-resilient urban planning, according to the University of Twente. This trend is mirrored by a new report on using EdgeAI and digital twins for resilience in Barcelona and Gothenburg, and the industrial launch of Bosch's Digital Twin IAPM system, whose architecture is considered applicable to urban asset management.
- The digital twin for Enschede was developed by ITC researcher Rodrigoandrés Morales as part of his Engineering Doctorate at the University of Twente. It was created in response to severe flooding in the Pathmos district two years prior, where heavy rainfall made dozens of homes uninhabitable. The system uses data from 277 public sensors to model and predict groundwater levels, helping to operate control barriers proactively. - This local project aligns with a broader national strategy for a "Digital Twin of the Physical Living Environment" (DTFL). The initiative is designed to tackle major Dutch challenges, including climate adaptation, the energy transition, and the need to build one million new homes, by creating a shared information base for government, citizens, and industry. - The Enschede project is part of a larger municipal ambition to become a "greener and bluer city" by 2050. This strategy involves replacing hard surfaces with vegetation and creating green spaces to act like a sponge, storing water during heavy rainfall and releasing it during droughts. University of Twente researchers are also actively collaborating with residents in neighborhoods like Twekkelerveld to co-design these green and blue spaces. - On a European level, such projects are supported by the European Green Deal, which recognizes digital twins as powerful tools for sustainability and makes them eligible for funding. The EU Nature Restoration Law, adopted in June 2024, further formalizes goals with binding targets for restoring urban ecosystems, creating a direct policy driver for digital planning tools. - The Netherlands' digital twin market is valued at EUR 1.1 billion, with significant investments in smart infrastructure, including a €1.8 billion government allocation for such projects. This investment is expected to improve the operational efficiency of infrastructure projects by 25% through technologies like digital twins. - The technology extends to construction logistics, where the LOKET project, part of a research program for the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, uses a digital twin for the Innovation Quarter in Den Bosch. This tool visualizes material flows, traffic, and calculates CO2 emissions and noise pollution to make construction logistics more efficient and sustainable. - In the Brainport region, a digital twin is being used to plan for the construction of 62,000 new homes by 2040. The platform, developed by TNO, allows policymakers to test scenarios and assess their impact on traffic, air quality, and noise, linking directly to the region's housing and mobility challenges. - The Bosch Digital Twin IAPM system is an industrial application that combines physics-based models with AI to monitor and predict asset performance. It creates a "digital highway" that connects experts and data sources to improve operational efficiency in sectors from energy infrastructure to manufacturing, with its architecture being applicable to urban systems.
