This NSF call emphasizes the critical role of civil infrastructure in the global economy and its significant impact on employment and GDP. It highlights the urgent need for innovative approaches to address the challenges posed by climate change, including reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to changing environmental conditions. The call seeks interdisciplinary research proposals that focus on developing sustainable, resilient, and equitable infrastructure solutions. These solutions should aim to extend the service life of existing infrastructure, create new infrastructure that can withstand future challenges, and address the disproportionate effects of infrastructure deterioration on marginalized communities. The ultimate goal is to stimulate transformative ideas that contribute to climate change mitigation and adaptation while promoting economic growth, social equity, and improved long-term performance of civil infrastructure systems.
With rapid urbanization necessitating innovative strategies for urban adaptation, combining technological advancements and holistic methodologies, this research explored the synergy between urban metabolism and digital twin technologies to foster sustainable urban development. A pilot model representing a university building, including the surrounding streetscape, was constructed using the Unreal Engine. By using available CAD design drawings and GIS technologies, the physical spaces were modelled. The physical and analytical environments were integrated into the digital twin; material flow analysis was also conducted. The developed framework aims to offer a detailed visualization of building behaviour, facilitating comparisons with urban metabolism analysis. This approach holds promise for sustainable urban design by integrating diverse data streams through digital twin technologies. The potential impact of this research extends to the tracking, mapping, and analysis of crucial resource flows, such as materials, water, energy, and waste, fostering circular economy strategies within the built environment. Understanding urban metabolism facilitates the identification of resource-efficient opportunities, promoting resource recovery and reuse to reduce the environmental impact of urban cores. Embracing digital twin technologies and urban metabolism analysis offers cities streamlined data collection processes, supporting standardization and sustainable urban practices. This study marks a critical step towards integrating diverse data streams into urban metabolism analysis, aligning with circularity objectives in the built environment. By adopting this framework, cities can better understand new production and consumption patterns that prioritize the responsible use of natural resources, contributing to a more sustainable and resilient future.
Geremicca, F., Fascetti, A., Brigham, J. C., & Bilec, M. M. (2024, June). Urban Metabolism and Digital Twin Technologies for a Sustainable Built Environment: Towards a Framework for a Campus Application. In IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science (Vol. 1363, No. 1, p. 012081). IOP Publishing. https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1755-1315/1363/1/012081/pdf