The level of uncertainty caused by the pandemic raised doubts over operations of critical city infrastructure, the performance of such infrastructure networks faced tremendous challenges in terms of their asset management. Performance assessment of infrastructure are tied to accurate granular data at geographic level, the lack thereof leads to complicated measures and intervention. In this regard, urbanization coupled with the pandemic has unraveled the need for connected and resilient infrastructure. Due to this, public & private organizations are prepared to develop an infrastructure and operations plan for resilient city management, with a digitally connected ecosystem of infrastructure.
Also Read: 6 reasons why energy transmission & distribution utilities need Digital Twin technology
Connecting urban infrastructure for resilient city management
Digital twins are in the forefront of creating a seamless connected infrastructure system, with the help of integration of 4IR solutions like IoT. Digital Twin with its capabilities to facilitate a shared ‘system of systems’ platform or ‘unified operations center’, are a transformative solution to provide digital representation of assets with geospatial information. This innate feature of digital twins alongside other transformative solution like IoT enables efficient and sustainable ways for asset management via:
- Design & engineering data
- Operational data
- Maintenance data
- Performance simulation and
- Scenario modelling data
Also Read: Still hanging from ropes for your bridge inspections? Try ‘Digital Twin’ instead
4D digital environment – BIM, GIS to Digital Twin for connected infrastructure
Geospatial data from GPS devices, hyper-spectral images, and sensors have enabled GIS platforms to create, render and analyze infrastructure data at a temporal scale. While, BIM platforms have integrated project management data (from Primavera, MS Project etc.,) to facilitate 4D – temporal factor of the construction & operations schedule to the 3D model. In the former, 4D maps can be utilized for utilities & asset management to perform virtual monitoring and inspection. Deep learning models have made significant progress in GIS platforms to produce connected features, in the form of automatically segmented and classified hi-res geospatial features. These geospatial features are utilized by multi-disciplinary stakeholders in the city management to coordinate and collaborate on infrastructure operations & management.
Digital twins has taken the role of an integrated, centralized platform or a ‘nerve-center’ capable of hosting diverse set of information (incl. Geospatial, Engg., O&M) of multiple assets spanning several infrastructure. The advancement of 4IR transformative solutions like AI-enhanced data analytics, cloud & IoT has evolved the role of digital twins from physical infrastructure’s digital representation to an all-encompassing temporal solution provider. This enables digital twins to provide infrastructure management solutions across all phases of lifecycle, including the design to execution phase, operations & maintenance (O&M) phase, as well as improvement or expansion of local infrastructure. Thus, digital twins have gradually emerged as prerequisite for connected infrastructure in cities. Some of the benefits of digital twins in this aspect includes efficient management of supply & demand for critical infrastructure like water, electrical & sewerage services, in real time.
Also Read: Application of Digital Twin technology goes beyond cities and AEC
4IR technologies & Digital Twin – advanced analytics for connected infrastructure
The advent of industry 4.0 with advanced sensors, artificial intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT) adoption has expanded digital twins solutions to produce refined applications in the city & infrastructure management space. Digital twins accommodates virtual representation of equipment, processes, workflow information and digital data of physical assets, these are extracted from multiple sensors and synchronized real-time. Integration of digital twins with AI & Big Data helps optimize infrastructure operations, lower costs & time associated with O&M through implementation of predictive maintenance. For instance, utility providers(like telecom, energy etc.,) are able to utilize digital twins application for identification of workflows to reduce operational costs, and detect critical problems in asset management.
Recently, enhanced AI/ ML capabilities alongside cloud-based analytics are being considered for incorporation of advanced predictive modelling for engineers to virtually ‘stress-test’ infrastructures. Such tests enable the infrastructure management authorities to plan pre-emptive measures, and identify weaknesses in their assets in order to strengthen the overall infrastructure resilience. Similarly, operations technicians are able to review historic data from the past operational capabilities of the infrastructure and are provided a ‘replay’ feature to run scenario modelling. The city infrastructure can be expanded and/ or retrofitted based on such scenario modelling, as well as develop reliable risk-mitigation plans. Hence, application of advanced analytics with digital twins facilitates city management to look beyond automation of inspection & monitoring, to forecast long-term sustainable infrastructure lifecycle management.
Geospatial World is organizing a series of virtual discussion series on ‘GIS & BIM Integration for Sustainable AECO Industry Practices’. These discussions will be held with stakeholders across North America, Europe and Asia regions aimed at advancing the AECO industry perspectives towards sustainable project delivery using an integrated application of GIS and BIM solutions. Click below to know more!
