Unlocking City Potential with Local Digital Twins and Data Spaces Standards
Dr. Antonio J. Jara
Expert in IoT | Sustainable Tech | Data Spaces | AI & Urban Digital Twin | Cybersecurity | Smart Cities
In the dynamic urban development landscape, Local Digital Twins (LDTs) are emerging as a powerful tool, revolutionizing how cities plan, manage, and optimize resources. As we delve into this transformative era, it becomes increasingly evident that standards for interoperability, exemplified by the FIWARE framework, are unlocking the full potential of Local Digital Twins.
The Foundation: FIWARE Standards for Interoperability
In digitalization, standards play a pivotal role in ensuring seamless interoperability. The FIWARE framework provides a robust foundation, facilitating the integration of diverse systems and technologies within the Local Digital Twin ecosystem. This interoperability is the key to breaking down silos and enabling cities to harness the collective power of data for comprehensive decision-making.
AI's Role in Model Creation: Shaping Sustainable Futures
Artificial Intelligence (AI) emerges as a catalyst in creating Local Digital Twin models, ranging from environmental modelling as Libelium uses frameworks as #CHIMERE, #MUNICH Street Canyon, #WRF to mobility modelling as PTV Group .
These models become indispensable tools for cities aiming to address complex challenges such as pollution, traffic management, and quality of life. AI-driven models provide actionable insights, enabling cities to formulate targeted strategies aligned with sustainable development goals, such as Agenda 2030 and Local Green Deal Strategies.
Data Spaces: Democratizing Access to Information
Access to data is the lifeblood of Local Digital Twins, and Data Spaces emerge as the gateway to democratizing this invaluable resource. By fostering an environment where data can be shared securely and efficiently, Data Spaces empower cities to collaborate, learn from one another, and collectively elevate urban living standards. This open approach accelerates innovation and mitigates challenges associated with data silos, building blocks defined by OPENDEI.eu .
Example of Data Space access for accessing Data about Smart Cities using the FIWARE Data Space as a Service connector under the Data Space ds.smartcity-marketplace.org.
Experiences of Local Digital Twins in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA)
RaseelPlatform is the Digital Twin and Smart City platform powered by FIWARE and Vizzio Technologies Pte Ltd deployed under the leadership of Abdulrahman Ibrahim and Abdulmajeed Mangara from Madinah Region Development Authority MRDA - Official Page .
Saudi Arabia is an excellent reference for the Local Digital Twin with the regulations of SDAIA | ????? and Digital Government Authority ; who are defining the basis for smart city development under the promotion of the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing .
Emerging cities as NEOM powered by TONOMUS are powering their digital twins using FIWARE and MetaWorldX technologies in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; where Libelium is supporting the air quality and pollution monitoring for the construction areas of Oxagon and #TheLine.
MIMs by Living in EU: Bridging Cities for Scalable Success
Mechanisms for Interoperable Models (MIMs) are a game-changer in Local Digital Twins. The ability to facilitate the applicability and reuse of models across different cities fosters a collaborative ecosystem. This scalability not only optimizes resource utilization but also encourages cities to learn from successful use cases, fast-tracking their digital twin implementation. Defined by Living in EU and Open & Agile Smart Cities & Communities (OASC) .
Today, the 2 initially widely adopted MiMs are MIM1 with APIs as ETSI NGSI-LD and MIM2 with the Smart Data Models (For more details, contact Alberto Abella, PhD ).
If you are a city, you should consider following MIMs powered by FIWARE and joining communities as Open & Agile Smart Cities & Communities (OASC) . Contact Martin Brynskov , Sophie Meszaros , Karl-Filip Coenegrachts if you want to know more.
Data Visualization and characterization as never before with BIM and CityGML standards
3D Insights: BIM takes data visualization to another dimension—literally! Explore your data in immersive 3D environments. You can see an example of Libelium visualization powered by Cesium and in cooperation with Urbim_ Digital Twin Platform .
Real-time Updates: Keep pace with dynamic changes as BIM provides real-time updates for evolving projects. For example, Libelium parking monitoring with Urbim_ Digital Twin Platform in TYPSA headquarters in Ayuntamiento de Alcobendas .
Collaborative Analytics: Enhance collaboration by visualizing complex data sets, fostering informed decision-making, and supporting urban planning as Low Emission Zones. Example of IMAGINEXT by EIT Urban Mobility solution in Lindau City in Germany by Libelium , CARNET , Fraunhofer IML and PTV Group .
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Start Small, Scale Up A Proven Approach
The adage "Start small and scale up" resonates powerfully in the success stories of cities that have embraced Local Digital Twins. Singapore, with its real-time traffic management system, Cartagena's Low Emission Zones modelling, Rotterdam's water management optimization, and Orange County's flood risk mitigation, all exemplify the efficacy of beginning with targeted use cases. This approach ensures focused efforts, tangible outcomes, and a foundation for expansive growth.
It is the philosophy that we follow in the largest experimentation facilities for AI, IoT, Robotics and Smart Cities in Europe, CitCom.ai TEF – Testing AI and Robotics in Smart Communities .
Embracing Success: A Global Perspective
These cities prove that a focused, use-case-driven strategy is the gateway to unlocking the immense potential of digital twins.
2. Singapore - Smart Nation Initiative:
Singapore has pioneered the implementation of digital twin technology in its Smart Nation initiative. The city-state is developing a comprehensive digital model of the country, facilitating better urban planning, infrastructure management, and public services.
Singapore's journey in becoming the first country to implement a nationwide digital twin sets a precedent for global emulation using platforms such as FIWARE and OneMindNG | OneMind Technologies with Jorge Luengo Azcona, Vizzio Technologies Pte Ltd with Jon LEE , Xiao Xin , Hwee-Pink Tan , Eng Hwee Ong .
3. Helsinki, Finland - Virtual City Model:
Helsinki is creating a 3D digital twin of the entire city to enhance urban planning and citizen engagement. The digital twin includes detailed information about buildings, infrastructure, and environmental factors, helping authorities make informed decisions. Synchronicity IoT and AI4Cities Project supported the initiative.
4. London, UK - The London Dashboard:
The Greater London Authority uses a digital twin called the London Dashboard to monitor various aspects of the city, including transportation, air quality, and energy consumption. It provides real-time data for better decision-making. Alex Gluhak Digital Catapult Future Cities Catapult .
5. Barcelona, Spain - Urban Platform:
Barcelona has implemented a digital twin platform that integrates data from various sources, such as sensors and IoT devices, to monitor and manage urban services. This includes traffic management, waste collection, and environmental monitoring. Joaquim Alvarez Mariano Lamarca Lorente EIT Urban Mobility CARNET .
6. Rotterdam, Netherlands - Open Knowledge approach:
Rotterdam powered by OpenStreetMap and Open Knowledge Foundation , https://dataportals.org/portal/rotterdam.
7. Island of Naxos, Greece - AWS Garnet Framework
Demonstrating the value and potential for creating a Smart and Sustainable Island Strategy. Powered by Amazon Web Services (AWS) Garnet Framework with Ali Benfattoum ; based on FIWARE standards.
Acknowledgements
This newsletter is based on my analysis and interpretation of all the official documents released by FIWARE, International Data Spaces Association (IDSA) , Gaia-X Association for Data and Cloud (AISBL), Gaia-X Hub Espa?a , W3C .
The i3-MARKET project and its Open Source Documentation, alike the involvement and participation of Libelium as a partner, also provided a rich and easy way to acquire know-how information and background technologies implemented for this purpose.
Data Spaces are a unique opportunity to reach a deep digital transformation and cooperation across organizations, so the cooperation to enable an interoperable, secure, and scalable approach for Data Spaces is one of the key opportunities to enable a Digital Single Market.
Dr. Antonio J. Jara is the Chief Scientific Officer at Libelium , a company that is working in Data Spaces as part of the solution Iris 360 Space, which is a powered by FIWARE solution to enable AI on demand, IoT advanced devices management, smart cities solutions for key verticals as Low Emission Zones, Crowd Management, Environmental Monitoring, Air Quality, Noise, Parking, and Data Spaces interconnection.
Libelium is a consortium member of the European Commission initiatives about Data Spaces:
Dr. Antonio J. Jara many thanks you for considering OneMindNG | OneMind Technologies and our Smart System #Orchestrator OneMindNg one of the recommended technological solution for #digitaltwins.
Absolutely awesome as Libelium partners and thE close work we do with Dr. Antonio J. Jara we are proud to be Canada's fastest growing Digital Twin company based on the concept of Cleantch, sustainability in order to enhance human lives. MetaWorldX Data, Decisions. VISUALIZED