Digital Twin Strategy Powering the National Economy

Overview

A Digital Twin (DT) is a virtual representation of a physical object, that is periodic updated in lifecycle and uses real-time date. The DT enables stakeholders of the system to visualize the data in 3D, and enables simulation of consequences of future interventions, which can aid in enhanced decision-making. As a digital tool, the Digital Twins play a pivotal role in powering the national economy by enabling stakeholders to make better decisions across all the major sectors of the economy. A national Digital Twin, which is an interconnected system of Digital Twins built for different use cases in different domains, can aid in informed decision-making with regard to the multi-dimensional challenges which span multiple domains.

The development of a national Digital Twin necessitates understanding regarding the challenges faced by key user sectors in the country. The Digital Twin initiatives which are a part of the national Digital Twin should therefore also be aligned with the strategic development priorities of the country. This raises the need for co-operation and collaboration between data producers and users across sectors, including both government and private stakeholders. The implementation of a national Digital Twin also requires the buy-in from the policymakers across domains due to its multidisciplinary nature, which emphasizes the importance of demonstration of the impact of Digital Twins in the national economy.

The development of a national Digital Twin in The Netherlands can be fast-tracked through the development of a comprehensive national Digital Twin strategy which define the standards, processes, tools, and mechanisms which can help drive the growth of Digital Twins. The development and expansion of National Geospatial Information Infrastructure (NGII) is foundational for the implementation of a national Digital Twin. Geospatial Knowledge Infrastructure (GKI) framework which places the principles of user-centricity, private sector participation, collaboration, and knowledge creation at its core, can aid in the integration of demand-driven, real-time data from diverse stakeholders, and development of a knowledge-focused NGII which can in turn aid in the development of the national Digital Twin. A national Digital Twin strategy developed in alignment with the principles of GKI will aid in driving Digital Twin maturity across domains and enhancing impact of Digital Twins across diverse domains of the economy and society.