Page 103 - Procurement guidelines for smart sustainable cities - A U4SSC deliverable

The results

Firefighting operations management through the new digital twin will make people safer. When
responding to an emergency, firefighters would be able to access the 3-D model of the building
they are entering, giving them knowledge of their surroundings as they attempt to save lives
and manage the problem. Advanced digital twin models can also be linked to AI and real-time
building occupant data so that firefighters know where people are and how the fire may spread.
Furthermore, as augmented reality technology develops, all this information could be delivered
through heads-up displays, allowing emergency responders to essentially see through smoke and
walls as they navigate through buildings.

Rotterdam’s waste services will also use the digital twin to bring benefits to citizens and the
municipal government alike. Community waste receptacles equipped with sensors inform urban
waste collection companies about how full waste containers are, meaning they can optimize their
routes based on the areas that need collection most. Linking these data to the digital twin also
keeps residents informed so, for example, carers for the elderly would not waste time searching
for the nearest available waste bin after each home visit.

The bridges that traverse Rotterdam's many canals must open and close to allow water and road
traffic to flow smoothly throughout the day. Accessing a broad network of cameras and sensors
around the city, Rotterdam’s digital twin tracks road and waterway traffic intensity to optimize
bridge opening and closing, ensuring that each flows with minimum disruption to the other. Road
and water vehicles linked to the system can be advised and rerouted in real-time for the benefit of
individuals and the city as a whole. Better traffic flow offers profound benefits to a range of urban
systems, especially in cities beset by bridged canals and similar infrastructure.

The challenges

The key element relies on a joint vision of purpose and basic generic functionality of an urban
platform. In the case of Rotterdam, this vision developed from digital twin, which then evolved into
a full-blown, suitably skilled urban digital community, in which all residents, shops and companies
can have their own address.

Next steps

Other principles include the development of a data marketplace, the preparation of an API strategy.
Developing this kind of digital city is technically challenging but also raises socio-political issues
related to privacy, security, ownership and governance.

4.1.5 Estimate costs

Before public officials and stakeholders decide to commission a particular product or service, they
should estimate the costs.

Procurement guidelines for smart sustainable cities | May 2023 89