27
ISSUE 03 MAY/2019
e award-winning tool, hosted on the
cloud-based platform Moata, combines up-
to-the-minute data from the wastewater
and stormwater network with weather
and tidal data and various predictive
analytic models.
is digital simulation is able to generate
a real-time forecast of water quality at 84
beaches and eight freshwater locations
around the city and serves up live advice
on swimming conditions via the website
Safeswim.org.nz.
Digital twins stand at the forefront of
innovation and, thanks to the increasing
penetration of Internet of ings (IoT)-enabled
devices, machine learning techniques and
building information modelling (BIM), are
expected to play a vital role in the digital
transformation of infrastructure.
Digital twins make it possible to
accurately map the location and condition
of assets, minimising costs associated with
maintenance and repairs. ey can provide
a virtual 'safe space' to test out adverse
network scenarios and innovations without
having to interfere with the operation
of real infrastructure. e benefits are
increased when multiple models from
different sources and sectors are linked
together to leverage each other's data to
improve municipal or national planning
and co-ordination.
Sarah Hayes is the senior policy
adviser at the National Infrastructure
Commission (NIC), which is spearheading
the development of a National Digital Twin
of UK infrastructure. She says: "Utilities
are developing digital twins, which is great
for them and for their customers, but we
will see an even greater public benefit if
we bring those and other models together
Above and right:
Auckland Council's
tool combines
data from the
wastewater
and stormwater
network with
weather and tidal
data to provide a
real-time forecast
of water quality
at beaches.
Below right: e
Safeswim website
gives live advice
on swimming
conditions
