Tasmania is set to receive its own digital twin to revolutionise city planning, scenario-test urban development decisions, improve liveability and prepare for future natural disasters – ensuring councils can deliver the best outcomes for their regions.
The cutting-edge digital twin, a 3D copy of the region, is set to transform city planning across a range of areas including transport, infrastructure planning, traffic management, energy and housing.
The digital twin, created by subsidiary of TasNetworks 42-24 and Enzen Australia, will support a more liveable, productive and sustainable state and encourage more efficient and effective delivery of urban services.
City of Launceston said its digital twin will lead the way for other cities, with the region’s digital twin project partners including both the Federal and State Governments as well as West Tamar, Meander Valley and George Town Councils, the University of Tasmania, and Telstra.
How does a digital twin work?
A digital twin can model how the community lives across the whole island state, and gives planners, road managers, public utilities and developers the most powerful tool in Australia to scenario-test decisions.
The planners can get a bird’s-eye view of the city, and a more detailed view of buildings for planning solar panel roofs or emergency evacuation routes. A click on a building can show how much electricity it consumes. It also covers the pedestrian level, to look at accessibility, traffic and footpaths.
The 3D Digital twin also allows planners to zoom in on the specific features of an area. It can show the terrain, shape and location of actual buildings, which is useful for projects such as flooding analysis.
It provides a glimpse into the future through virtual testing of changes to housing, energy use, transport, population growth, public spaces and the local environment before any change is made.
