Victoria is set to become a global leader in digital innovation and location-based intelligence. The State Government is announcing a record investment of $35.2 million in digital twin technology and spatial innovation over the next three years.
Digital twins bring together huge amounts of data on a single platform to create a digital simulation of the real world. This makes it easy for the government, industry, education and the community to access accurate and up to date information in a user-friendly format in one online place.
This announcement follows a successful pilot for Digital Twin Victoria, which was funded $2.2 million in the 2020/21 State Budget. The pilot has seen Land Use Victoria partner with CSIRO, Australia's peak science and technology body, to develop a digital twin platform for Victoria.
Harnessing cutting-edge digital twin technology, rich 3D and 4D spatial data, artificial intelligence, sensor data and more, Digital Twin Victoria is revolutionising how we plan, model, and consult on the built and natural environment.
Digital Twin Victoria's platform will allow users to interact with Victoria past, present and future, to make better, data-driven decisions about the impact of change on our communities and the environment.
Planners, engineers, builders and more will be able to model different project scenarios, test the feasibility of proposals, troubleshoot potential issues, and share complex information across sectors and workplaces more easily.
Digital Twin Victoria will also provide a collaborative, digital workspace for all government departments across planning, transport, infrastructure and land management, driving outcomes of value for all Victorians.
Announcing the investment, Minister for Planning Richard Wynne said Digital Twin Victoria would transform planning and unlock efficiencies from start to finish of infrastructure projects helping to drive our state's recovering economy.
"Once this platform is established, real-time data can be collected at an astonishing rate and absorbed into the Digital Twin to support informed planning decisions and share important information with communities.
"With the convergence of big data and advanced technology, Digital Twin Victoria will enable us to do in minutes and days things that used to take weeks, months and even years."
Melissa Harris, Land Use Victoria's Chief Executive, said Victoria already has an impressive track record of leading the nation in digital transformation for the built environment, transitioning its land administration and property information to almost 100% digital – a first for Australia.
"Digital Twin Victoria is one of the most exciting digital transformation programs underway in Victoria right now, and I'm excited to see how this will take shape over the next three years as we continue to work collaboratively with partners across the public sector and beyond.
"Through Digital Twin Victoria, we are harnessing the digital revolution for the built and natural environment to position Victoria as Australia's tech state firmly."
Digital Twin Victoria's platform has been built using TerriaJS technology from CSIRO's data and digital arm, Data61. While still in its development, the digital twin platform already hosts thousands of datasets from Australia, Victoria and local government agencies. It is expected to be widely accessible by late 2021.
Jon Whittle, Datat61 Director, explained that Digital Twins could allow us to visualise and represent data in a way that enables practical applications and outcomes for cities and communities.
"By partnering with government and industry, we can harness siloed data and transform it into a collaborative, interactive piece of technology that shows the bigger picture of what's happening to our cities over time.
"Digital Twin technologies can offer real-world benefits to not only governments and industries, but communities and individuals, and we are very pleased to now be bringing together our world-leading technologies to create Digital Twin Victoria."
The Digital Twin Victoria program builds on Victoria's strong digital transformation agenda, including creating a digital twin for Australia's largest urban renewal project, Fishermans Bend, and complements the Victorian government's once-in-a-lifetime $45 million investment in modernising our digital cadastre.
Source: https://www.land.vic.gov.au/maps-and-spatial/maps-and-spatial-news/landmark-investment-to-create-state-wide-digital-twin