Municipalities generate vast volumes of data, and digitally enabled smart cities go even further. They leverage the Internet of Things to gather information about traffic flows, population trends, water, sanitation and a range of other indicators.

What if you could pull all that together to make a virtual model of the whole city, with its many interconnected parts and pieces?

Known as a digital twin, this approach is gaining traction as compute and storage capabilities increase. A recent report from market advisory firm ABI Research says cities could save over $280 billion annually by 2030 through the use of digital twins for urban planning…

Experts point to several potential use cases for digital twins that support key elements of smart city infrastructure.

For example, cities could leverage digital twins to make better choices on healthcare infrastructure, deciding where to position hospitals, emergency services and other resources.