Cities are being cloned in the virtual world. Here's what that means for the future - CNN

Using real-time data and artificial intelligence, digital twins become virtual, living mirrors of their physical counterparts – providing opportunities to simulate everything from infrastructure and construction to traffic patterns and energy consumption.

The first, called “ CTwin,” focused on one of the city’s major roadways to examine mobility-related energy use by building a digital representation of traffic signal infrastructure, says Comstock.

Another ongoing project uses sensors and laser imaging at intersections to monitor pedestrian movements and compare it to vehicle traffic, in the interest of safety.

The digital twin can reveal what the finished job will look like, Lehtola says, “so you could show (the public) for example, if there’s some construction work or land development taking place, what is the outcome, how it will look, and then also get more precision on the estimates on the benefits and useability and added value of different projects.”

The key to success is what Logg calls “data sustainability” – the frequent, real-time updates feeding into the digital twin to keep pace with the constant evolution of the physical city.

More data points are becoming available to inform the models, with sources including autonomous cars, delivery drones, and construction equipment outfitted with smart sensors, Lehtola says.