Dassault Systèmes shares more on Virtual Singapore

Source: Dassault Systèmes.

In June 2015 Dassault Systèmes, the 3D design software provider, announced more details of the collaboration with the National Research Foundation (NRF), Prime Minister’s Office, Singapore, around Virtual Singapore, a virtual three-dimensional (3D) model of the country. The NRF is leading the project, the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) is providing 3D topographical mapping data and will own and operate the project once completed, and the Infocomm Development Authority (IDA) is providing information and communications technology expertise.

The S$73 million research and development programme is designed to be a collaborative platform with visualisation techniques that will be used by Singapore’s citizens, businesses, government and research community to develop tools and services that address long-term decision making that will affect the population and land area, including infrastructure and resource management, environmental and disaster management, public services, urban planning, community services and homeland security.

Dassault Systèmes' information and modelling technology allows Virtual Singapore to be integrated with static and dynamic city data and information. The project will build upon Dassault Systèmes’ 3DEXPERIENCity to create a dynamic 3D digital model of Singapore and connect all stakeholders in a secured and controlled environment. The model will employ data analytics and simulate modeling capabilities for testing concepts and services, planning, decision-making, researching technologies and generating community collaboration.

With images and data collected from various public agencies, including geometric, geospatial and topology, as well as legacy and real-time data such as demographics, movement or climate, Virtual Singapore users will be able to create rich visual models and realistic large-scale simulations of Singapore. Users can digitally explore the impact of urbanisation on the city-state and develop solutions that optimise logistics, governance and operations related to environmental and disaster management, infrastructure, homeland security or community services.

“Singapore is the most advanced city in the world in terms of leveraging technology to plan and manage its transformation over the next decades, and its government’s forward-thinking vision towards a Smart Nation parallels our own mission to harmonise product, nature and life through 3D universes,” said Bernard Charlès, President & CEO, Dassault Systèmes.

“Cities are some of the most complex ‘products’ created by humanity. Through more efficient and accurate predictions of future experiences within these cities using state-of-the-art tools and applications, we can better anticipate national resource planning or provision of services, and contribute towards a more sustainable quality of life. We hope to see other cities echo Singapore’s exciting initiative.”

In a recent visit to Singapore, Charles noted a similar project in the French city of Lyons has been running for 10 years. Consultations are held with the public, who can make more informed decisions after manipulating the virtual version of the city.

"With Singapore I'm convinced we can significantly improve the way urbanisation is happening, the great thing about Singapore is that many countries of the world are looking at Singapore (as a key player) in the innovation field, with credibility," he said.

Virtual Singapore, he elaborated, "provides a common platform for multiple agencies in charge of the state to better collaborate and coordinate the effort to provide increased value to the citizen". "It is difficult for multiple agencies to work together because where is the reference? How do you evaluate things? If you think about what the agencies have to do, they do it step by step because it's very complex. It's very difficult to evaluate a decision on other domains," he explained.

A 'digital twin' of Singapore will allow people to "better understand the context, experience and evaluation before they actually transform the city", he added.

Charles noted that there is a lot of unsuitable data available. "People believe that the bad data is good," he said. "We need to show that some of the legacy data is poor quality and needs to be rectified."

Virtual Singapore was launched in late 2014 as part of Singapore’s Smart Nation drive, and is expected to be completed by 2018. Charles said the project will next involve focus groups to get the feedback about the value of the information provided in Virtual Singapore. "We need to learn simultaneously, not only with the specialists of the agency but make sure we ensure we can have accessibility to citizens for certain decision processes. This will happen this year," he said.

In 2014, the population of Singapore was estimated at 5.47 million, inhabiting a land area of 718 km². In comparison, Tokyo, with a population of 38 million, has an area of 2,200 km².  

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