____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Digital twins
experience - web , desktop , mobile , or mixed reality . These advances reach beyond the gaming community to infrastructure designers and engineers , project managers , and other stakeholders who want to visualize and model the sustainability of their project . Engineers can use real-time data and artificial intelligence to take us on a simulated journey into the future and see the outcomes that affect our carbon footprint .
Future-proofing infrastructure
Combating climate change is a global effort , and any organization trying to meet sustainable development goals needs the right tools to get there . This technology can be democratized for any project size , scope , or complexity , regardless of where in the world the project is located . The economic and environmental benefits of using digital twins for infrastructure have no boundaries .
According to the Center for Strategic & International Studies , clean water infrastructure is considered “ a critical aspect of the water agenda ” set by the G7 Build Back Better World Partnership ( B3W ), and digital twin technology is poised to take on the challenges of water scarcity and sanitation on a global scale .
At the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration , National Climatic Data Center scientists use historical rainfall data from digital twins to virtually test the operation of existing stormwater systems . They can then forecast data to model the impact of a major storm event and see the impact that it would have on any present or future stormwater infrastructure designs . Water infrastructure projects mapped with digital twins are addressing outdated stormwater systems that are buckling under the stress of heavier rainfall and increased flooding caused by climate change .
Achieving a zero-emissions future could also be possible with the help of infrastructure digital twins . Scientists and engineers are working virtually using infrastructure digital twins to create a carbon-free energy experiment , with 35 countries collaborating to build the world ’ s largest tokamak — a magnetic fusion device intended to prove the feasibility of nuclear fusion . The International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor ( ITER ) project , based in southern France , expects the experiment to generate 500 megawatts of energy to power up to 200,000 homes , if successful . The implications of this potential , unlimited source of clean energy would have an unprecedented impact on sustainable development goals .
As the needs of our world continue to grow and change in size and scope , digital twins are essential for future-proofing infrastructure and driving climate action with sustainable designs that cut carbon emissions and eliminate waste .
Infrastructure digital twins are not futuristic . As fundamental building blocks of the infrastructure metaverse , they allow groups to interact and collaborate in new ways to help solve problems today for a more sustainable and resilient tomorrow . ■
For the list of sources used in this article , please contact the Editor .
Lori Hufford www . bentley . com
Lori currently leads Bentley ’ s Engineering Collaboration organization and is focused on advancing infrastructure design using digital twins . Prior to this role , she led Bentley ’ s modeling and visualization team and various digital transformation initiatives across Bentley solutions . Lori has a diverse technology background with 25 years of industry experience across both enterprise organizations and startups . Lori earned a bachelor ’ s degree in electrical engineering from The Ohio State University , and a master ’ s degree in electrical engineering and computer science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology .
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