The creation of a city’s digital twin allows its functioning to be replicated in a virtual environment, radically transforming urban management and planning. Through precise simulations, this technology anticipates problems and tests solutions without real risks. At the same time, digital twins integrate with tools such as Big Data, BIM (Building Information Modelling), IoT (Internet of Things), cloud computing, and virtual reality, in what has become a crucial tool for smart and resilient cities.
Singapore: A Virtual Urban Laboratory
Singapore has taken a step forward with Virtual Singapore, a dynamic three-dimensional model that replicates the city-state with an unprecedented level of detail. This project, developed by the National Research Foundation, is more than a visual representation; it is a collaborative platform that combines geometric data, satellite images, demographic information, weather conditions, and mobility flows in real time.
The key to its success lies in semantic 3D modelling, where each urban element—from vegetation and water bodies to construction materials and transportation infrastructure—is linked to specific data. Here, BIM has been essential, allowing the visualization of building geometry and access to detailed technical information for each component.
Started in 2014 and completed in 2022, Virtual Singapore has continued to evolve. Although currently limited to public and private entities that use it to analyse markets, test services, or design products adapted to the city’s real needs, the goal is to expand it to citizens and researchers around the world. Therefore, in addition to simulations and testing solutions, Virtual Singapore would allow residents to explore and understand their environment, propose improvements, or verify the transparency of urban processes.
To learn more and see how Virtual Singapore works, we encourage you to watch the following VIDEO.
By David González Molina, BIM manager in the Architecture Department at Amusement Logic
