At municipal level, a large amount of data comes together that is not yet linked in most cities and municipalities. Many administrations also use their own filing systems and cannot directly access data from other departments. In particular, the central linking of this wealth of data opens up new scope for action for local authorities.
How can Germany’s municipalities implement plans or projects faster, better and more cost-effectively on the basis of data? And above all: how can decisions be accelerated? One possible solution is the digital replication of cities – the digital twin. In the “TwinBy – Digital Twins for Bavaria” funding program, 17 Bavarian cities and municipalities have been working on such solutions. In cooperation with the state government, they have implemented digital twins in which various data sets converge and can be analyzed for different purposes. The digital images offer municipalities numerous opportunities to grow into the role of a “digital public service”, to operate more efficiently and to simplify internal processes. They combine and visualize data on the basis of 2D or 3D models and enable simulations for future scenarios.
With the help of these digital models of real objects or processes, various data can be linked and changes can be tested without great effort. The 3D city models serve as the basis for various applications, for example to simulate heavy rain and flood events or to display mobility behavior in city centers live.
The TwinBy project thus lays the foundation for the standardized availability and networking of data and applications. Data can be integrated from different, decentrally stored or generated sources, allowing individual digital twins to be created step by step.
With the funding program, the Bavarian State Ministry for Digital Affairs has supported 17 municipal funding projects in the creation of individual digital twins based on specific use cases. Within one year, the funding recipients were able to implement individual and specific projects, for example in the areas of “Energy and Environment” or “Mobility and Health”.
aconium accompanied nine funding recipients on their way to becoming a Digital Twin
aconium GmbH supported nine funding recipients of the program and implemented the open source solution “Masterportal” for Neunburg vorm Wald, Schwabach, Deggendorf & Plattling, NordAllianz, Aschaffenburg, Pressath and Schwandorf.
In addition to access to the master portal, pilot projects were also implemented to create initial application examples. The project ideas of the funding recipients ranged from the digital model of the city of Schwabach to mitigate the consequences of flooding to intelligent traffic control when searching for a free parking space in Schwandorf in the Upper Palatinate.
The city of Kempten used the project to further develop the existing digital twin. Until now, it lacked a structured data catalog and thus the ability to organize and use existing data in a targeted manner. With the help of an SDDI catalog, which links data with a 3D city model, and the appropriate software for data portals, the city was able to search, upload, download and publish its data sets. Now the data is spatially located in the geoportal and can be found using the search function.
As part of its Smart City strategy, the city of Kempten is planning to open up its internal data room and offer it as open data. The city sees the greatest added value of the digital twin as being the ability to present complex spatial issues simply and intuitively.
The technical implementation of the digital twin, the selection of data and the training of employees was also a challenge for Kempten’s local government. aconium GmbH supported them along the way.
Municipalities from all over Germany are now benefiting from our experience from this project and we can offer them customized solutions for the development and establishment of a digital twin. Digital twins give political decision-makers better opportunities to make well-founded decisions by making it easier and quicker for them to understand the data from the municipalities and their respective (future) effects. They can also help municipalities to position themselves for the future, for example by adapting urban infrastructure to climate change. There is also the opportunity to improve economic efficiency (e.g. where is it possible to cut costs by reducing energy consumption?) or to promote e-government services.
A lighthouse project comes to an end
At the final event on April 11, the funding recipients presented their digital twins in an exhibition and had the opportunity to share their experiences in discussion rounds. The Bavarian Minister of State for Digital Affairs, Dr. Fabian Mehring, was also present and was delighted with the results: “With the completion of TwinBy, we are taking an important step forward on our path to a modern state: we have also brought innovative planning models to smaller towns and municipalities. This is how successful digitalization works – not as an end in itself, but with concrete added value for the reality of life on the ground.”
aconium project manager David Schäfer summarized: “From the very beginning, the focus was on continuous exchange with the funding recipients in order to keep an eye on what is to be mapped with the data.”
Information and data are the key to well-founded decisions in many areas of municipal policy and development – urban development, transport planning, environmental protection, energy and building management, e-government services and much more are supported and simplified by a consistent and transparent data situation. This enables reliable and faster decision-making processes. For cities and local authorities, knowing their own data situation and requirements is the start of the journey towards a digital twin, and the concrete technical implementation is the next step. aconium will continue to support them as a partner in setting up and further developing individual digital twins.
Background of the project
With a total funding volume of around one million euros, 17 projects from 13 individual municipalities and four municipal associations were supported, according to the ministry. The participating municipalities received consulting and coaching services from selected service providers for professional and technical implementation as well as funding of up to 50,000 euros for individual municipalities and up to 75,000 euros for cross-local projects.
The Bavaria-wide project also promoted exchange between the municipalities so that the stakeholders can benefit from each other’s experiences. An accompanying training program ensures that work with and on the digital twins can continue after the end of the project.