Digital twins for integrated transport network management research by Government
The Department for Transport (DfT) has released its findings on the economic benefits of digital twins for integrated transport network management, conducted alongside global engineering consultancy Arup.
The research expands on the DfTs Transport Research Innovative Board (TRIB) vision and builds a roadmap to aid the development of a national ecosystem of federated digital. The aim is to improve the performance of multi-modal transport in the UK by 2035.
Mike Kane, Minister for aviation, maritime and security, said: “As we move towards an era of integrated sustainable transport, digital twinning is a powerful technology that can help us transform our networks, improve efficiency and make greener travel a reality.”
The report ‘integrated network management digital twin: economic benefits analysis’ highlights the effects of using transport digital twins across the economy and its potential impact on the environment and the public. It estimates benefits of roughly £850 million across a 10-year period.
Kane added: “This report is an excellent example of how Government and industry can come together to deliver innovation and shows how valuable this technology could be to both the UK economy and the millions of people who rely on our transport networks every day.”
The research is expected to help enable the sector to make the case for integrated transport digital twins, along with driving adoption and improving transport efficiency. This is to be achieved in three ways.
The first is to link operations across modes. Digital twins can enable seamless integration of various transport modes creating optimised journeys across sea, road, active travel, bus, tram, and rail systems. This is by improving situational awareness and reducing journey times and congestion, having the knock-on effect of reducing emissions.
Secondly, improving emergency response time. Real-time view of transport networks is possible using digital twins, allowing for rapid identification of incidents and fast responses. This minimises disruptions and maximises safety whilst allowing for collaboration across government.
Lastly, access to data is improved, enabling data sharing and cooperation throughout sectors. This allows sectors to support each other's growth and the adoption of AI into industry and public infrastructure.
Ryan Hood, digital highways leader at Arup, said: “This research underscores the potential of digital twins to optimise the performance of our transport networks. By harnessing data and technology to support a collaborative, multi-modal approach, we can create a safer, more efficient, integrated, and sustainable transport system. This technology not only promises significant economic benefits but also paves the way for a more resilient, predictive, and responsive system that can adapt to the evolving needs of our society.”
