Imagine a virtual Jacksonville, viewable through an augmented reality headset, that shows the intricate aspects of the city in 3D. This is the future of sustainable urban planning, and the University of Florida is leading a project that will leverage artificial intelligence and digital twin technologies to make it happen. By building a virtual model of a section of the city, UF researchers will be able to test future land use and climate scenarios while visualizing infrastructure investments. This information will allow decision-makers to see the potential real-life impacts on the lives of residents and help city planners adapt to changing conditions. And the Jacksonville pilot may be just the beginning.
Building Florida’s Digital Twin
Florida faces an aging infrastructure, a changing environment, and rapid population growth. Digital twin technologies can help decision-makers make data-driven choices to sustain Florida’s natural resources, protect the community’s health, ensure economic prosperity, and enhance the benefits of future urban planning projects.
As the state’s flagship land-grant research university, UF is capitalizing on its research capabilities in order to benefit the state of Florida. Last year, UF President Ben Sasse allocated $1.75 million in strategic funding from the Florida Legislature to build Florida’s Digital Twin. The project – led by Christine Angelini, Ph.D., an associate professor and director of the UF Center for Coastal Solutions – aims to harness digital twin and AI technologies that will help the state plan for uncertain scenarios.