India drives digital twin innovation with cutting-edge technology ‘Sangam’

On February 15, the Indian government proposed a game-changing initiative involving cutting-edge technology and innovation to achieve a daunting goal: 3D and interactive digital replication of physical assets such as urban landscapes or sensitive ecosystems. A number of potential stakeholders and contributors, including industry pioneers, start-ups, MSMEs, academia, innovators and forward thinkers, have been invited to Express Expressions of Interest (EOI).

The government’s push for digital twin technology is intended to pave the way for creating virtual copies of physical assets, enabling real-time monitoring, simulation and analysis, facilitating iterative experimentation and feedback loops to effectively adapt to changes and optimize outcomes.

The government invites participation from different stakeholders by leveraging 5G networks, Internet of Things (IoT), Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality (AR/VR), Artificial Intelligence (AI) and AI-native sixth generation (6G) networks and digital twins. Sangam called on “the collective wisdom of public entities, infrastructure planners, tech giants, start-ups and academia to break down silos and take nationwide action,” according to a notice from the Department of Transportation.

According to the goals of the national geospatial policy, “digital twins” will be built in key cities and towns across the country by 2035.

What is digital twin technology?

Digital twin technology entails generating a virtual copy or simulation of a tangible object, system or program. These digital replicas are linked to their real-world counterparts via sensors and data streams, facilitating instant monitoring, analysis, and enhancement.

For example, Google Maps is a digital twin of a transportation system that contains all possible paths between destinations as well as current information on road conditions (such as traffic inputs).

All cities have their own problems – road congestion and traffic management challenges, unplanned urban growth, large infrastructure planning, unoptimized space, poor resource management, unsustainable growth, etc. are some examples. In a developing country like India, and even in developed countries, as cities get bigger, the stakes get higher and the margin for error gets smaller.

Governments around the world are investing in this digital mirroring technology, with Dubai, Shanghai, New York, Singapore, Helsinki and a number of other countries establishing digital twins. With nothing to lose, India seeks to start early in this area.

Testing future technologies

The Indian government’s initiative aims to test the future technology of “digital twins” while leveraging the latest cellular network technology, the power of interconnected technology systems, the evolving world of virtual reality, artificial intelligence, and more.

The current Sangam: Digital Twin initiative is a Proof of Concept (PoC), divided into two phases, to be implemented in a major city in India. The first phase focuses on discovery activities to clarify the scope of the project and promote creative exploration to unlock its potential. The second phase involves practical demonstrations of specific use cases and aims to create a future blueprint that serves as a roadmap for scaling and replicating successful strategies in future infrastructure projects through collaborative efforts.

Building on the progress made in communications, computing and sensing technologies over the past decade, the plan is ready to move forward within the “techade” and look to 2047. The Indian landscape is marked by significant advancements in computing technology, with diverse platforms, innovative services, and widespread use of high-speed connectivity laying a solid foundation for future endeavors.

Sangam aims to bring all stakeholders together on one platform to transform innovative ideas into tangible solutions, bridging the gap between concept and implementation. It advocates a holistic approach to innovation that encourages stakeholders to transcend traditional boundaries and leverage unified data and collective intelligence.

Aligned with global trends in smart infrastructure and powered by India’s geospatial advancements, Sangam aims to position India as a leader in digital infrastructure and innovation while recognizing similar progress made by global peers. It calls for the creation of an ecosystem that maximizes the value of technological advancement to meet society’s needs for efficient, effective and sustainable development.

Through this initiative, the government seeks to demonstrate practical implementation of innovative infrastructure planning solutions, develop a model framework to facilitate faster and more effective collaboration, and provide a future blueprint for scaling and replicating successful strategies in future infrastructure projects.

National Geospatial Policy

The National Geospatial Policy, launched on December 28, 2022, is an important initiative to promote the development of the geospatial sector to support national development, economic growth and the emergence of an information-rich economy. It is a visionary roadmap that contributes to socio-economic progress and aims to achieve India’s ambition and sustainable development goals of becoming a five trillion dollar economy.

Inspired by this policy, renowned 3D mapping company Genesys International on Wednesday (November 22) established a strategic partnership with the Survey of India (SOI), India’s main surveying agency. The alliance aims to innovate India’s mapping by introducing a “3D Digital Twin Mapping Initiative” and is expected to have a transformative impact. So far, the company has produced digital twins for Ayodhya, Mumbai’s Dharavi slum cluster, Kochi and Kanpur, among others.

Geospatial technology is an advanced tool for analyzing location-based data that helps monitor natural resources, plan development and respond to disasters. The technology provides a comprehensive view of the Earth through satellite imagery, GPS, remote sensing and geographic information systems. This citizen-focused policy builds on the momentum created by the 2021 Guidelines for the Acquisition and Generation of Geospatial Data and Services, promoting a more liberal approach to geospatial data processing. It aims to provide a comprehensive framework for the development of the industry, focusing on nurturing infrastructure, skills, standards and businesses.

The policy emphasizes innovation and strengthening of geospatial information management in national and sub-national systems. Guided by existing guidelines, it encourages private sector participation by improving the ease of doing business in the geospatial sector.

This policy has achieved some results and had a significant impact. More than 1,000 continuously operating reference stations have been established across India to provide centimeter-level real-time positioning, which is a remarkable achievement. These sites significantly improve the quality of location-based services, supporting applications such as mapping, food delivery, navigation and determining optimal retail locations.

Additionally, the development of numerous geospatial data sharing portals represents another important milestone. These platforms provide entrepreneurs with open access to geospatial data and satellite imagery, facilitating the creation of innovative applications that benefit both citizens and governance. In addition, substantial capacity building and skill development efforts led by academic institutions and specific government programs have also helped advance the geospatial field.

The advancements made in the field of geospatial technology and India’s ambitious future goals in this field have enabled the country to invest in the concept of digital twin technology and pursue innovative technological breakthroughs that can leapfrog the economy. This is where the ‘Sangam: Digital Twins’ initiative can bring significant benefits to India, optimizing the country’s technological advancements in areas such as internet connectivity, fintech, information technology and ushering in the era of smart infrastructure.