Digital Twins – A panacea for development?

Digital twins will undoubtedly become a critical requirement for organizations and countries in the future.

Dr Siva Kumar Rachapudi Managing Director SIBHU siva@sibhu.space

There has been increased interest in Digital Twins (DT) in India, and the growth of startups in this domain is mushrooming. It is pertinent to understand the evolution of these technologies, which requires a comprehensive understanding of various underlying complexities and the basic requirement of ground truthing. In the past, many organizations, both public and private, have ventured into new areas without realizing the need for in-depth knowledge of interdisciplinary subjects, including geospatial technologies. It is envisaged that the ‘Sangam: Digital Twin’ initiative will propel India towards becoming a developed country by 2047. To realize this vision, we need to raise awareness and create conditions that enable startups to achieve unicorn status.

What is Digital Twin

A digital twin is a virtual representation of a physical object, process, or system that serves as a real-time digital counterpart. It acts as a digital replica of a real-world entity or system, used for simulation, analysis, monitoring, and prediction. The physical entity and its digital model are connected through real-time data. Digital twins are increasingly applied in various fields, including smart cities, healthcare, aerospace, manufacturing, and oil & gas, to support informed decisionmaking, maintenance, risk reduction, and performance enhancement.

Geospatial technologies, combined with the Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and Big Data analytics, form the core of digital twins. These technologies enable organizations to better understand, predict, and optimize the performance of their assets or processes. The full potential of digital twins is still being explored.

Digital Twins in India

The adoption of digital twin technology in India is growing, driven by government initiatives and private sector innovation. Many projects across various sectors are being implemented, for Smart Cities as part of the Smart Cities Mission (Pune, Bangaluru, Varanasi), manufacturing (TCS), infrastructure (L&T), healthcare (facilities managements), energy sector (power plants for performance optimization), agriculture (precision agriculture, crop management), education (virtual labs, training), transportation (traffic management and urban planning), utilities management (sewage. Waste disposal, distribution of power, gas), digital heritage (Hampi, Nalanda).

Digital Twin and 3D GIS While 3D GIS

(Geographic Information System) and digital twins are related technologies, they are not the same. 3D GIS focuses on spatial data representation and analysis with geographic and topographic information typically static or updated periodically for visualization and spatial analysis. By integrating IoT, it becomes a real-time dynamic system.

Whereas Digital Twin represents a specific object, system, or process, incorporates various types of data beyond just geographic information including real-time data enabling simulation and predictive analysis. It can effectively be used for monitoring, optimization, prediction, preventive maintenance and informed decision-making

However, 3D GIS can be a component of a digital twin, especially for location-based digital twins as digital twins often incorporate GIS data and functionality. – A digital twin may use 3D GIS as its base layer, adding realtime data and simulation capabilities

In essence, while 3D GIS provides a spatial foundation, a digital twin goes beyond by incorporating real-time data, simulation capabilities, and a broader range of information types. A digital twin can be more dynamic and interactive than a traditional 3D GIS model.

First 3D GIS Project – Chandni Chowk Delhi

Traditionally, GIS was used for mapping and decision-making in 2D throughout the last century. However, with advances in computing and communication technologies, the concept of 3D GIS began to be implemented in various developed nations at the turn of the century. In 2006, the Department of Science & Technology conducted a pilot project in Chandni Chowk, one of Delhi’s oldest and busiest markets. This project aimed to create a detailed 3D model of Chandni Chowk for urban planning, heritage conservation, law enforcement, and infrastructure management.

Contemporary technologies such as highresolution aerial photography, satellite imagery, LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging), and GPR (Ground Penetrating Radar), complemented by ground surveys, were used for data collection.

There were many challenges in the form of complexity of the area with narrow lanes and dense construction, integration of modern technology with historical architecture, incorporation of cadastral data, temporal accuracy of data in a rapidly changing urban environment.

Delhi 3D GIS – Delhi Geospatial Act 2011

Encouraged by the success of this project, the Delhi Government undertook the creation of a 3D GIS for the entire city, covering 1,500 square kilometers, starting in 2008. This project marked the first comprehensive 3D GIS in the country, efficiently planned and executed by the Survey of India (SOI) with private sector participation. SOI employed innovative methods and processes for data collection, productization, and tools, offering diverse applications and services through the Delhi Geoportal. Additionally, SOI successfully transferred knowledge to Delhi officials at various levels, which contributed to the enactment of India’s first geospatial legislation, the Delhi Geospatial Act of 2011.

Today, Geospatial Delhi Limited (GSDL), a Geo-Knowledge enterprise and custodian of Spatial Data Infrastructure (SDI), maintains and updates spatial data through mapping and surveys. GSDL facilitates the usage of this data across various departments in Delhi. As a unique Spatial Data Resource Center, GSDL integrates data from various departments, standardizing and ensuring interoperability. By generating relationships that reflect real-world scenarios, GSDL serves the data through value-added applications. It provides a flexible set of GIS tools, geospatial services, and applications to support the diverse functions handled by the Delhi Government.

First Digital Twin Project – Indian Digital Heritage Project – Digital Hampi

The Digital Hampi Project is an innovative initiative aimed to digitally preserve and showcase the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hampi, located in Karnataka, India. Leveraging the experience gained from 3D GIS technology, the project goes beyond future planning to revive and reconstruct the past. It involves recreating destroyed monuments, building 3D models, and tagging various aspects of social life, culture, art, dance, and music to provide an immersive experience for users.

The project utilizes 3D laser scanning, terrestrial photogrammetry, and Virtual and Augmented Reality (VR/ AR) to create high-resolution 3D models of monuments and artifacts.

In 2011, the Department of Science and Technology (DST) convened researchers from 24 premier research and academic institutes across India to focus on the digital documentation and interpretation of tangible and intangible heritage. The initiative aimed to extend the capabilities of digital technologies beyond mere monuments to encompass art, architecture, and all forms of cultural and historical knowledge. B

By leveraging advanced technologies in computer vision, graphics, augmented and immersive experiences, as well as audio-video technologies and user interface design, the project sought to create vivid representations of heritage. These technologies provide users with immersive experiences and offer analytic tools for art historians, architects, and scholars interested in conducting in-depth studies of Indian heritage.

The basic goal of the IDH project was to bring about a fine synergy of Geospatial technologies with matured ICT technologies and develop technology tools to help preserve, use, and experience India’s vast heritage in digital form. Such a task could only be achieved by collaboration among different communities and agencies : the technology community consisting of scientists and engineers from, who would invent, innovate and develop appropriate technologies, the culture community consisting of 11 teams of artists, art historians, archaeologists, architects, anthropologists and other experts from the humanities and the social sciences who know and understand the heritage, government agencies who as custodians of India’s vast heritage bring the necessary executive power to enable the collaboration, and private agencies, companies and other organization interested in this for a variety of reasons including tourism. This was perhaps the first such effort in India attempted as a major multidisciplinary, multi-institutional, multi-crore project supported by the Department of Science and Technology through its arm Natural Resources Data Management Systems (NRDMS).

Digital Twins for national security

While there are many commercial applications that can utilize digital twin technology, there can be many areas for military application. Digital twins enable defence organizations to monitor the health and performance of military assets in real-time. By collecting and analyzing data from sensors embedded in the physical systems, digital twins can detect anomalies, predict failures, and optimize maintenance schedules. This proactive approach to maintenance minimizes downtime, reduces costs, and enhances the readiness of military equipment.

Training on equipment, weapons, delivery systems and surveillance systems:

Digital twin can enable display of the equipment structure, machine status, and mechanical principles, for effective transfer of knowledge to personnel with varying capabilities. Thus, it can effectively increase the learning experience of students while decreasing the cost (both time and money) of trying to use an actual machine. It integrates real-scene 3D modelling technology, big data technology, etc. to build a digital twin platform for military training scenes, which can realize the organic combination of people, equipment, and environment virtual and reality, and form a dynamic virtual presentation of the battlefield environment. In future it should be possible to accurately simulate in real time all five senses allowing soldiers to feel the flames of war.

Decision Making:

Scenario generation, mission planning and decision-making processes greatly improved by integrating real-time data from multiple sources, including sensors, intelligence systems, and geographical information providing commanders with a comprehensive situational awareness. Digital twin allows for an accurate and real time assessment of the battlefield and gives commanders the ability to make the best possible decisions to lead to victory.

Logistics and Maintenance:

Full life cycle management will allow for effective anticipation of repair needs creates a record of data used in digital twins to accurately predict when equipment will need repairs and even help predict potential maintenance issues if the product is changed or upgraded.

Military readiness requires resilient, battlefield ready supply chains across the defence enterprise. Digital twins are a critical tool in this environment and can help manage supply chain risk, accelerate reinvention and build resiliency by combining human ingenuity with technologies that fuel end-toend visibility and AI-powered scenario modelling. Predictive analytics tools would help. Battlefield logistics needs, and solve problems such as battlefield equipment failures and logistics with high quality and efficiency by efficient supply chain management.

Challenges

A number of challenges many organizations face such as complex data management, skills (AI & ML) and knowledge upgradation of staff, efficient cyber security protocols and their strict adherence, higher costs of recovery platforms for data and solutions, dependence on a number of vendors/ suppliers. More important lack of awareness even at leadership levels.

Another issue is the quality, volume and complexity of data needed and the time and costs involved in managing it.

The turf war across agencies within and outside the organizations creates duplication resulting in higher expenses and lack of standardization leads to interoperability issues. Data sharing amongst stakeholders is still an issue besides Ownership of Physical and Digital Models, Intellectual Property Rights (IPR), Data Integrity and Security. Standardized contract templates be used for Systems integrators drawing data, solutions and services from multiple agencies to ensure effective and efficient maintenance and to keep them current in real time/near real time.

Conclusion

Digital twins will undoubtedly become a critical requirement for organizations and countries in the future. To use these technologies effectively and optimize resources, developing nations will need comprehensive legislation to prevent misuse and protect safety, privacy, and national security.

While many startups are emerging in this field, there is a need for mentorship and support to help these startups grow into successful unicorns. To facilitate this, exclusive programs focused on digital twins should be organized to increase awareness, outreach, and provide necessary training and mentoring. Establishing nationwide Centers of Excellence can play a crucial role in this effort.

Developing human resources for digital twin implementation in defence forces is crucial. Military officers made significant contributions in geospatial as a part of Survey of India. Now that the military survey is becoming a self-sufficient agency, there is a crying need to establish a Capability Centre for Specialized training programs, Cross-disciplinary education, Partnerships with academia and industry and change management.

We also have to debate the need for an exclusive Geospatial Act for the country encompassing all geospatial and related technologies. Government may provide more incentives for startups to enable them to compete for the projects and provide support for research and innovation by startups in various sectors such as Automobile, Infrastructure, Revenue, Agriculture, Defence & Homeland security, traffic management on land, air and sea, public places and heritage buildings, etc.