SURVEYING THE SECTOR
A key method to realise bidirectional mapping and dynamic interaction between virtual and reality , the Digital Twin ( DT ) technology provides another effective approach for observing , understanding , controlling and transforming the physical world . It was originally designed to improve local public services but has since been more widely used to develop tailored applications for different scenarios involving urban planning and management , demonstrating enormous potential for solving problems in urban governance .
Lifecycle management
A Digital Twin is a digital representation of a physical object , person or system powered by utilising physical models , sensor updates , operating history , and other data , which reflects the whole life cycle of the corresponding physical entities in the virtual space .
DT technology covers every link of the entire product life cycle from design to development , manufacturing , maintenance , and even recycling , enabling product information to remain consistent even when changes occur in any of the links . Not only can it help companies develop better products , it can also help users use the product in an optimal way .
In recent years , the rise of the meta-universe and emergence of the Internet of Things , cloud computing , and Artificial Intelligence ( AI ) have fuelled the DT market , with the technology widely available in areas such as urban management , industrial manufacturing , water conservancy , security and emergency response .
Statistics from the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology ( CAICT ) showed that the global Digital Twin market size was valued at US $ 7.7 billion in 2022 , year-onyear growth of 57.1 %, and is expected to reach US $ 30.5 billion by 2025 . The figure in China was 10.4 billion yuan ( US $ 1.45 billion ) in 2022 , yearon-year growth of 35 %, and is poised to soar to 37.5 billion yuan ( US $ 5.2 billion ) by 2025 .
Virtual Reality mapping to Virtual Reality linkage
China first introduced the concept of a ‘ Digital Twin city ’ in 2018 when a master plan for the development of Xiongan New Area was formulated that required synchronised planning and construction of both a digital and physical
New Area with an aim for a world-class digital city with deep learning capabilities .
As project leader for Xiongan digital planning and construction based on City Information Modelling ( CIM ), Yang Tao considers the project an unprecedented challenge that requires trial and error . Unlike conventional model and experiencebased plans , he explained , this project focuses on tackling urban issues such as urban planning , energy consumption management , waste treatment and traffic congestion by recording and monitoring the whole process of construction of Xiongan New Area .
In transportation construction , for example , they established the world ’ s first large-scale regional-level digital road network to simulate real-world scenarios . The project can collect all kinds of data on the roads including pedestrians , vehicles , traffic lights , buildings , weather and environment and detect traffic status under all kinds of weather conditions around the clock , thus providing diverse services for businesses , the government , and the public such as road operation and maintenance , emergency management and autonomous driving tests .
Xiongan New Area ’ s CIM platform set the standard for subsequent Digital Twin city planning and construction in other parts of the country . In 2022 , China rolled out a plan to facilitate development of the digital economy in the 14th Five-Year Plan period ( 2021 – 2025 ), calling for building Digital Twin cities with wellestablished city information modelling platforms and improved operation and management service platforms . To this end , the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development , the Ministry of Housing and Construction , the Ministry of Natural Resources , the Ministry of Water Resources , and other relevant authorities have scaled up policy support for Digital Twin technology development , talent and application to promote the construction of Digital Twin cities .
CAICT counted 30 new enterprises involved in Digital Twin city construction in China every year before 2014 and between 50 and 60 from 2015 to 2018 , but the number skyrocketed to over 100 from 2019 to 2021 , suggesting a continuously growing market with huge potential .
DT technology is more than simply digitalising and visualising physical assets . The core goal is to convert data resources into data capital by linking
The rise of the meta-universe and emergence of the Internet of Things , cloud computing , and Artificial Intelligence ( AI ) have fuelled the DT market .
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