DUET: A Framework for Building Interoperable and Trusted Digital Twins of Smart Cities

Abstract

Digital twins have generated a lot of hype recently, but questions remain about what the technology actually means and how one can be built for smart cities. There is a lack of unified models and frameworks for data fusions that link the physical and virtual data exchange. This can undermine the uptake of digital twin technology by cities that are unable to tackle urban problems with advanced data-driven solutions. The T-Cell framework developed by the DUET project acts as a container for models, data, and simulations that interact dynamically in a common environment and provide useful insights for smart city decision makers. Dynamic correspondence that links the architecture with models and data makes it possible to monitor and synchronize the state and behavior of the digital twin with the physical environment being mirrored. Individual models are integrated through APIs to form a cloud of models that can be called upon to perform various what-if analyses related to traffic, air quality, or noise pollution. The framework is currently being tested with citizens in three locations in Europe, but it is easily replicable so that any city, no matter its size, can leverage the power of digital twins to achieve its policy goals.