Seoul City builds the nation’s first digital twin map

The Seoul Metropolitan Government revealed that it has built S-Map(3D map), a twin city that duplicates 605.23 square kilometers of Seoul in 3D into cyberspace. "Digital Twin Seoul S-Map," a smart administrative innovation model that combines information such as administration and environment in this virtual space and solves various urban problems through simulation, will begin operation on April 1st.

It is the first time in Korea that a Digital Twin has been built that can even simulate urban problem analysis across the whole city. It is hard to find such cases even in global cities. The U.S., the U.K., and Singapore have developed a Digital Twin environment and are using it for policies of facility management, traffic accident prevention, and disaster response.

This year the Seoul Metropolitan Government will increase the objectivity and scientific accuracy of deliberation by utilizing S-Map in the decisions of seven committees, including the Urban Planning and Traffic Impact Assessment Committee. S-Map will be fully used from this year in the entire process of public building design competition. Even in the fire outbreaks, it intuitively checks the location of the fire in 3D and responds by predicting the spread.

Information about wind path throughout Seoul is also derived through S-Map and used to solve various urban problems. It will also be used for preventing forest fire spread, lowering fine dust and heat effect by simulating predicted wind path based on information from the Korea Meteorological Administration.

Services for citizens through S-Map will also be strengthened. Pinkfong, the Seoul Metropolitan Government's public relations ambassador, will launch a contactless tour service that explains major tourist attractions along with VR videos within this year. In addition, 600 cultural assets can be seen and Hanyang's appearance on an old map in the 1900s will be reproduced in 3D. S-Map will also provide 14,000 street views, including traditional markets and narrow alleys that are not provided by private services. The plan is to lead to revitalization of the local economy.

After 2022, the service aims to develop to the stage where urban control is possible, such as autonomous driving and earthquake prediction.