DEVELOPMENT OF A DIGITAL TWIN FOR THE MONITORING OF SMART CITIES USING OPEN-SOURCE SOFTWARE

Abstract

Cities are consistently motivated to come up with technology-driven solutions that aim to reduce the negative impacts of rapid urbanization. This paper explores open-source software as a platform in visualizing and developing a digital twin, which aids in mitigating the problem by running simulations and generating potential improvements through generated insights. The four essential components examined to develop the methodology are: (1) Visualization of Digital Model; (2) Identification of User Interface and Data Management Requirements; (3) User Interface Set-up and Configuration; and (4) Analysis and Simulations. Different tools for visualizing the city such as Unity3D, QGIS2threejs, and TerriaMap were explored and compared. Though Unity3D and QGIS2threejs can visualize 3D city models, TerriaMap was favored for its capability to visualize large areas in 3D and to create customizable user interfaces. User interface components were identified as well as handling and processing geospatial datasets. For the analysis and simulations, the Land Surface Temperature hotspot detection was performed and integrated into the system to demonstrate its potential to include other simulations in the future.