Revolutionizing Urban Planning: Esri Canada’s Digital Twin Technology in Action
A digital twin is a dynamic, virtual representation of real-world objects, processes, and relationships, integrating vast datasets like IoT sensor data, LiDAR, and satellite imagery to mirror physical environments.
As urban populations surge and cities face unprecedented challenges like climate change, aging infrastructure, and housing crises, traditional urban planning methods are struggling to keep pace.
Enter digital twin technology—a transformative tool that creates virtual replicas of physical environments, enabling planners to simulate, analyze, and optimize urban systems with unparalleled precision.
Esri Canada, a leader in geographic information system (GIS) technology, is at the forefront of this revolution, leveraging its ArcGIS platform to empower municipalities to reimagine urban planning.
The Rise of Digital Twins in Urban Planning
A digital twin is a dynamic, virtual representation of real-world objects, processes, and relationships, integrating vast datasets like IoT sensor data, LiDAR, and satellite imagery to mirror physical environments.
Unlike static 3D models, digital twins evolve in real time, offering planners a holistic view of urban systems. Esri Canada’s ArcGIS platform, particularly tools like ArcGIS Urban and ArcGIS CityEngine, enables the creation of high-fidelity digital twins that integrate geospatial data, building information modeling (BIM), and real-time analytics to support data-driven decision-making.The global push for smart cities—urban areas that use technology to enhance efficiency, sustainability, and livability—has accelerated digital twin adoption.
According to ABI Research, cities could save over US$150 billion by 2028 through digital twin applications, particularly in energy, utilities, and safety. In Canada, where rapid urbanization and a housing crisis demand innovative solutions, Esri Canada’s technology is proving instrumental in transforming how cities plan for growth.
Esri Canada’s Digital Twin Technology in Action
The City of Ottawa: A Blueprint for Urban Innovation
The City of Ottawa, Canada’s capital, is a standout example of Esri Canada’s digital twin technology in action. In 2023, Ottawa won the Esri Special Achievement in GIS Award for its development of a GIS-based, interactive 3D digital twin using ArcGIS Urban. This digital twin supports the city’s new Official Plan, which will guide development over the next three decades.
By transforming traditional 2D mapping into a dynamic 3D environment, Ottawa’s Geospatial Analytics, Technology, and Solutions (GATS) team has integrated datasets such as zoning bylaws, elevation profiles, transit networks, and building information to create a comprehensive planning tool.
The Ottawa digital twin enables planners to visualize proposed developments, such as a 26-storey condo complex, in context, assessing impacts on streetscapes, traffic, and environmental factors like CO2 emissions.
The city also developed Zone Builder, a web-based tool within ArcGIS, allowing planners to review zoning proposals collaboratively and engage the public with realistic 3D visualizations. This transparency has streamlined public consultations and supported Ontario’s Bill 109, which fast-tracks urban development approvals.
Other Canadian Cities Embracing Digital Twins
Beyond Ottawa, other Canadian cities are leveraging Esri Canada’s technology to address unique urban challenges:
Toronto: Infrastructure Ontario and Toronto Metropolitan University are collaborating on digital twin projects to modernize infrastructure, focusing on real-time data integration for facility management and urban planning.
Calgary: The city uses digital twins to enhance infrastructure management, mapping roadways, utilities, and transit systems to improve service delivery and citizen engagement.
Vancouver’s YVR International Airport: Launched in 2022, YVR’s digital twin integrates sensor and historical data to optimize operations, training, and future planning, showcasing the versatility of digital twins beyond traditional urban contexts.
Globally, Esri’s technology has been used in cities like Zurich, Singapore, and Philadelphia, where ArcGIS CityEngine facilitates rapid 3D modeling of urban environments using real-world GIS data or procedural scripts. These examples highlight the scalability of Esri Canada’s solutions, from municipal planning to large-scale infrastructure projects.
The Future of Urban Planning with Esri Canada
Looking ahead, Esri Canada’s digital twin technology is poised to evolve with advancements in AI, IoT, and distributed computing. The integration of AI with ArcGIS could enable predictive analytics, forecasting urban trends like population growth or climate impacts with greater accuracy.
Cities like Montreal, which won a $50 million Smart Cities Challenge grant, are exploring digital twins to enhance mobility and food access, signaling a growing commitment to smart city initiatives.