A startup The company Scenexus has unveiled plans to build digital twins of cities around the world.
Scenexus, a spin-off from the Dutch research organization TNO, launched a new urban planning platform this week.
The software mixes multiple data sets to clone entire cities and regions.
Planners and engineers then use the replicas to closely analyze the impact of their ideas.
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According to Scenexus, the platform can accelerate its reviews from days to just a few minutes. They can then predict the social, environmental and economic impacts of developments.
A variety of factors can be checked, from traffic and safety to financial growth and resident sentiment. The concepts can then be adapted to urgent challenges such as housing shortages and traffic jams.
The platform has already gained traction Customers in Amsterdam, San Diego and Singapore. More cities are expected to sign up soon.
Scenexus has also announced a new backer for the project. The Hague-based company has raised €1.6 million from the LUMO Rise Fund, a €100 million capital pot for impact-oriented technologies. Scenexus is the first investment from the fund, which is managed by Dutch VC firm LUMO Labs.
Andy LĂĽrling, founding partner of LUMO Labs and member of the TNW advisory board, has great expectations for the startup.
“The spectrum of application areas is almost unlimited,” Lürling told TNW.
He highlighted ten particularly promising goals: smart mobility, air quality, noise, climate, spatial development, justice, well-being, quality of life, resilience and energy.
To support these applications, Scenexus will provide its digital twin platform as a software-as-a-service solution.
Building digital twins
Under the hood of the system Thousands of calculations are processed in parallel Algorithms are running on graphics processing units (GPUs).
According to Scenexus, results are up to 1,000 times faster than the leading planning software on the market. Thanks to this speed, developers can quickly develop new urban planning concepts.
scene will now focus on bringing more cities to its platform. The startup has also joined digital cities projects with Microsoft and a European consortium.
LĂĽrling is optimistic about the company's plans.
“With Scenexus, cities immediately save time, money and effort and identify unforeseen challenges before they arise,” he said.
“At the same time, it enables a sustainable improvement in the quality of life and safety of the city as well as the well-being of residents and visitors.”
