(Online only, 10:00-11:00 UK Time)

Organisers: Jack Metcalfe, Claire Ellul, Jantien Stoter

Digital Twins (DT) are dynamic virtual representations of physical assets, processes, and systems that enable bidirectional data flows between virtual and real-world entities at a specified fidelity depending on the use case. Once confined to the manufacturing sector, DTs are now being developed across a multitude of industries and sectors, many of which utilise geospatial data and services, such as urban planning, critical infrastructure (including rail, roads, and energy), and construction. NMCAs have extensive experience in spatially representing entire countries, integrating heterogeneous data sources, developing standardised production pipelines focused on quality, and maintaining national-scale geospatial data infrastructures. Given that DTs are now being developed to address spatial problems, it is unclear how NMCAs are to engage with and contribute to DTs. 

The Digital Twin Cookbook for NMCAs is a EuroSDR-funded project to develop a shared resource that provides NMCAs with guidance on several key topics relating to NMCAs and DTs. These include a synthesis of the latest research, discussions on the role of an NMCA in DTs, use case development, geospatial requirements of DTs and a value framework for NMCAs to evaluate their contributions to different DT types. 

The DT Cookbook project is scheduled to run until 2027 and is now at the stage where an initial platform with early insights and research is in place. There is the ambition that the cookbook will be a collaborative resource where members and others can contribute and share experiences relating to DTs. 

The project is being conducted in conjunction with PhD research on Digital Twins and NMCAs at University College London in the UK. 

The online forum will: 

• Demonstrate the Alpha version of the DT Cookbook, including the platform it is currently hosted on
• Present the development plan for the DT Cookbook until 2027
• Encourage participation and contributions to the DT Cookbook and demonstrate how to do this
• Obtain feedback on the DT Cookbook so far to inform future development

Program:

10:00-10:05: Introduction to the DT cookbook project

10:05-10:30: Demonstration of the DT Cookbook so far

10:30-10:40: DT Cookbook Development Plan

10:40-11:00: Discussion: contributing to the cookbook and any feedback