2024-10-31
Spatial Digital Twin of Istanbul
- Customer
- Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality
- Project manager on the customer side
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- Year of project completion
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2024
- Project timeline
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June, 2023 - March, 2024
- Project scope
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6000 man-hours
- Goals
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The project aims to create Istanbul's spatial digital twin, focusing on disaster risk management, especially for earthquakes & floods. Initial implementation was successful, & future phases will include urban planning, real-time traffic management, & city-scale simulations. This digital twin enhances pre-disaster risk reduction, preparedness, & post-disaster management by utilizing IoT & big data integrations.In pre-earthquake scenarios, HazTurk software assesses building vulnerabilities, while BIMs, road analysis, logistics centers, & infrastructure are mapped. During an earthquake, simulations predict damaged structures in minutes. Satellite imagery, AI-driven validation, & real-time data from land cameras & drones ensure accuracy. Immersive command at AKOM dispatches resources, linking mobile apps & vehicle tracking. In the post-earthquake scenario, the platform manages citizen relocation to gathering points, routes to hospitals, & optimizes logistics for food, shelter, & aid.
- Project Results
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All 3D models of the city including buildings, roads, etc. have been integrated into the platform, allowing for real-time display of current city data such as traffic & transportation information, camera connections, IoT data, & infrastructure network data. Currently, disaster simulations & the data to be used for disaster management have been integrated into the system & are operational. Based on the analysis results, we can generate damage estimates on a building-by-building basis for a potential earthquake, & identify buildings that will be affected according to the severity of flood events. Analyses also can be conducted regarding the capacities of gathering areas to be used in emergencies & the adequacy of nearby hospitals' capacities. Through camera integrations, footage can be obtained from cameras at any location. By incorporating data from public transportation and infrastructure networks (natural gas, water, wastewater), analyses can also be performed.
The uniqueness of the project
The Spatial Digital Twin of Istanbul stands out as a pioneering project that offers a comprehensive virtual representation that integrates real-time data and modeling specifically customized for disaster scenarios of the city, integrating both built and natural environments. It emphasizes a systematic approach to disaster management, covering pre-disaster risk reduction, preparedness, and post-disaster responses.This disaster-focused project offers a unique approach to disaster management, combining digital twin technology and big data analytics, unlike traditional methods. The project analyzes real-time data before, during and after a disaster, creating a dynamic and proactive management model. Artificial intelligence-supported simulation and forecasting capabilities enable decision makers to evaluate alternative scenarios and make strategic decisions in risk management.Another unique aspect of the project is that it provides data integration from different units of IMM and multiple stakeholders. By consolidating different data types and models, the project enhances its scope and effectiveness, elevating Istanbul's disaster management capabilities to an exceptional level. These features provide a model for other cities to adapt the project to their own specific needs.
- Used software
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In the project, ESRI and BENTLEY systems are used. In the upcoming period, Twinit (Invicara) and Nvidia – Omniverse platforms will be installed and implemented. The project will also collaborate with the Pacific Disaster Center (PDC) and connect their Disasteraware services.
- Difficulty of implementation
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Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) is a large organization with over 90.000 employees and more than 30 subsidiaries. Using the technology, integrating the IoT, big data and other software platforms aside, the most difficult challenge of implementing this project was gathering the huge amount of correct and reliable data from various data sources. For instance, in order to accurately calculate the earthquake damage impact to each and every specific building, we needed detailed information about the age of all of the buildings in Istanbul. We correlated many data from various sources and departments.
- Project Description
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Spatial Digital Twin of Istanbul is the virtual representation of the real-world Istanbul, including and representing real-world assets or natural systems along with information models, data, reports, analyses, and behaviors in spatial context to the natural and built world. This project mirrors what exists in the real world today, but also can forecast what may exist in the future. This platform has been developed to create a "digital twin" of Istanbul in a virtual environment, aimed at reducing disaster risks, strengthening preparedness processes, and optimizing post-disaster responses.This platform is already harnessed with IoT, GIS, BIM, and Big Data integrations with some other analytics and simulation capabilities. Digital twin is not a single product or solution—it is a complex network of technologies and systems. The initial use case implemented is the "Disaster Risk Management" approach, primarily focusing on earthquake and flood scenarios, which has been successfully achieved within the digital twin of Istanbul. The following process management tasks are automated within the ‘’Earthquake Risk Management‘’ scenario.In the Pre-Earthquake scenario, the HazTurk earthquake damage assessment simulation software is integrated with essential data to evaluate earthquake impacts in Istanbul. By analyzing factors like coordinates, depth, strength, and angle, potential damage to individual buildings can be estimated. Additionally, road closure analysis and impact of this to the overall transportation system can be performed. The platform also facilitates the evaluation of logistics centers and gathering areas to determine their capacity to serve citizens. Furthermore, underground infrastructure layouts, such as gas and water distribution networks, are integrated into the digital twin for comprehensive planning.During the Earthquake scenario (first 4-6 hours), immediately after an earthquake, the HazTurk simulation software can be activated to assess potential building damage, providing initial results within 30 minutes. The aim of this scenario is to identify the buildings that are certainly damaged and effectively allocate search and rescue teams to the appropriate locations. Also, task and resource management software can dispatch the most available and close team to the hazard point. In the post-earthquake scenario, the digital twin platform, which is equipped with comprehensive post-earthquake data, facilitates the assessment of the number of citizens requiring relocation to gathering points, along with their respective capacities and accessibility. It enables the identification of hospitals across Istanbul, their capacities, and the most efficient routes for transporting injured citizens based on road damage assessments. Furthermore, road closure analyses can inform the optimal routes for dispatching food, shelter, and first aid services to gathering areas.
- Project geography
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The project integrates geographical considerations to create a virtual representation of the City of Istanbul, encompassing its physical, social, economic, & environmental dimensions. It involves managing & processing data, developing applications, & integrating IoT systems, GIS & BIM infrastructure, alongside software & data from the IMM.The project incorporates detailed spatial data on Istanbul’s topography, land use, & critical infrastructure, while also considering the socioeconomic landscape, including population density & economic activities. Also, GIS technology enables the integration of various data layers, enhancing understanding of the city, while IoT sensors provide real-time data for dynamic updates, particularly useful in emergencies.Overall, the project geography promotes a holistic approach that enhances disaster risk management & sustainable urban development, contributing to a more resilient & adaptive Istanbul.
- Additional presentations:
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Spatial Digital Twin of Istanbul.pdfUrban Planning.jpgPopulation Density.jpgNatural Gas Distribution.jpgEarthquake Scenario.jpgCamera Viewing.jpgBuilding Infortmation System.jpgEarly Warning System.jpgAir Quality.jpg
