The Urban Flows Observatory wanted to better understand the environmental factors affecting those who live and work within Sheffield. Through the digitisation of city infrastructure into a 3D model and the integration of live data including air quality and weather, we used this platform to have a clearer insight into the health of the city. By replicating city conditions and responses, we improved understanding of health outcomes and achieve better decision making.

We worked with the Urban Flows Observatory and other teams at the University of Sheffield to develop the foundations for a city-wide digital twin, demonstrating the potential value for city stakeholders. Integrating live sensor data with a digitised model empowered the Urban Flows Observatory with greater insight and was a key first step towards creating a comprehensive visualisation, analytics and prediction platform and ultimately a city-wide digital twin for Sheffield.

This platform, introduced with an implementation strategy, is entering a second phase of development. As the framework we developed is technology agnostic, it creates the template for further digital twins in other cities and is in line with the Gemini Principles, outlined by Centre for Digital Built Britain to guide development of a national digital twin. City-scale twins on an open framework are core to enabling smarter, more sustainable infrastructure solutions, and our work in Sheffield lays the crucial groundwork for further development in this exciting field.

Find out more about the Urban Flows Observatory at Sheffield University: https://urbanflows.ac.uk/