Development of Digital Twins for Urban Water Systems

Abstract

Purpose: This paper provides an overview of the emerging concept of digital twins (DTs) for urban water systems (UWS), drawing from literature review, stakeholder interviews, and analysis of ongoing DT implementation at the utility company VCS Denmark (VCS).

Methodology: Within the realm of UWS, DTs are situated across various levels, including component, unit process/operation, hydraulic structure, treatment plant, system, city, and societal levels. A UWS DT is described as a structured virtual representation of the physical system's elements and dynamics, organized in a star-structure format with interconnected features linked by data connections conforming to open data standards.

Findings:This modular structure facilitates the breakdown of overall functionality into smaller units (features), fostering the emergence of microservices that communicate through data links, primarily facilitated by application programming interfaces (APIs). Integration with the physical system is achieved through simulation models and advanced analytics.

Unique Contribution to theory, practice and policy: The paper suggests distinguishing between living and prototyping DTs, where "living" DTs entail coupling real-time observations from a dynamic physical twin with a simulation model through data links, while prototyping DTs represent system scenarios without direct real-time observation coupling, often used for design or planning purposes. Recognizing the existence of different types of DTs enables the identification of value creation across utility organizations and beyond. Analysis of the DT workflow at VCS underscores the importance of multifunctionality, upgradability, and adaptability in supporting potential value creation throughout the utility company. This study clarifies essential DT terminology for UWS and outlines steps for DT creation by leveraging digital ecosystems (DEs) and adhering to open data standards.