Berlin gets a digital twin: planes scan the city!

Berlin gets a digital twin: planes scan the city!

Berlin is about to experience an exciting innovation: starting Monday evening, survey flights with a Cessna 208 Caravan will take place in the capital over several nights. The aim of these flights is to create a “digital twin” of Berlin, allowing detailed and precise mapping of the city. A state-of-the-art laser scanner is used, which records at least 40 elevation points per square meter at altitudes between 800 and 1,500 meters. This innovative technology is being used for the first time in Germany rbb24 reports.

The flights, which will be carried out over Schönhagen airfield near Trebbin due to the lack of a night flight ban, should take place over a period of at least seven nights. During this time, the clearly audible noises of the small aircraft will characterize the nights of Berlin. The aim of the “Digital Twin” project is to create a spatial, digital image of the city and ultimately of the whole of Germany. The aim is to make sustainable decisions in the area of ​​spatial and geodata, with height accuracy of around ten centimeters.

From Berlin to Germany – a comprehensive project

This project is part of a larger initiative led by the Federal Office of Cartography and Geodesy (BKG). The Digital Twin Germany is to be created from August 2022 to December 2026 to support sustainable decisions in the federal administration. The digital twin is not just a simple digital replica; it is an intelligent, spatial model based on Industry 4.0 concepts. The digital twin data is updated every three years to reflect trends and changes, such as bkg.de explains.

The digital twin will help simulate future scenarios and take the long-term effects of decisions into account. An important aspect of the project is facilitating the collaboration of interdisciplinary working groups and the use of special expert systems. This modeling enables, among other things, comprehensive studies on topics such as flood risks during heavy rain or health issues in urban areas.

A digital future for sustainable urban development

There are already 49 pilot and research projects for the development of digital twins active in Germany, which are supported by the “Smart Cities Model Projects” funding program. These initiatives demonstrate the potential of digital images in urban planning. For example, the University of Stuttgart is working on digital twins for the city of Herrenberg to support the energy transition, or for Stuttgart's Marienplatz to analyze traffic flow. Such models can often be used to carry out experiments that go beyond traditional functions, which can create a basis for far-reaching changes. However, challenges such as data protection, regulatory gaps and lack of standards must be addressed, such as tab-beim-bundestag.de notes.

The digital twin could not only give new impetus to urban development, but also provide valuable data to actively address climate change and social challenges. The aim is also to integrate into European digital twins in order to create synergies. A holistic approach is required to increase efficiency in the use of data and to develop future-proof solutions.

With countless possibilities, Germany is on the threshold of a new era of urban planning and decision-making. The digital twin could prove to be a valuable tool for developing and implementing sustainable strategies here in Cologne and beyond.