A Digital Twin of River Experiment Infrastructure Based on a 3D Game Engine and Validation of Water Flow with a Real-Scale Experiment

Abstract

Reproducing the fluid dynamics of rivers is a challenging task that involves considering various factors such as water level and flow velocity. Although numerical modeling research has been performed in this field, the intricacy of establishing these models can vary considerably based on the numerical techniques applied. Hence, this study aims to validate the effectiveness of fluid flow reproduction technology based on game engines, highlighting its real-time performance. In particular, a prototype of the digital twin (DT) of the River Experiment Center, a full-scale hydraulic experimental facility, was constructed using the Unreal Engine 5 game engine, emphasizing visibility and real-time reproduction. Fluid Flux, based on shallow-water equations and 2D height fields, was utilized to reproduce flow results, and a comparative validation was conducted using the experimental data obtained from full-scale empirical tests. The findings validated the practicality of replicating real flow patterns, even with a simplified fluid simulation aimed at reproducibility and real-time efficiency. However, specific factors must be considered for public usage such as managing rivers and urban floods. The results indicate that graphics-based flow reproduction technology can more easily integrate with other fields. Moreover, the ability to reproduce events in real time and employ visual effects is essential for efficient disaster response.