The Digital Twin concept, initially introduced in the 1960s has experienced rapid uptake at the beginning of the twenty-first century. Over the last two decades,s is has evolved from a simple virtual replica mostly used in manufacturing to complex, real-time, AI-driven systems able to model cities, critical infrastructures, buildings, and traffic. 

Digital Twin and CCAM

In the context of Cooperative, Connected, and Automated Mobility (CCAM), implementing Digital Twin technology is crucial in the domain roadmap. This technology has the potential to improve safety, urban mobility management, and stakeholder collaboration. By simulating various scenarios, a Digital Twin can predict potential hazards and evaluate the benefits of traffic management strategies. Simultaneously, the Digital Twin enables real-time monitoring and analysis of infrastructure and situational data, generating intelligent outcomes that can be shared among multiple stakeholders. 

The FRODDO Digital Twin

In FRODDO, the concept of Digital Twin technology is tailored to the needs of Connected, Cooperative, and Automated Mobility. Within the project, the DT is much more than a static digital replica but a dynamic, federated, and AI-assisted platform that integrates real-time data, predictive analytics, and simulation capabilities to support the safe and efficient operation of automated vehicles across diverse environments. This framework has four major objectives:

• Aggregate diverse data from vehicles, infrastructure, and environmental sources.
• Offer a real-time, multidimensional view of the transport ecosystem.
• Simulate, predict, and optimize traffic management strategies by using AI.
• Support decision-making through interactive dashboards and AI-based systems.

Built on the modular Crimson Digital Twin platform, the FRODDO Digital Twin framework is designed to be scalable and interoperable, adapting to the specific needs of various pilot projects. This ensures effective integration with CCAM services and other FRODDO modules, whether for road networks or indoor environments, offline simulations, or real-time monitoring.

© CS Group FRODDO DT Visualization and dashboard

What’s next?

The FRODDO Digital Twin platform will evolve throughout the project with the clear objective to fulfil the needs of the four project pilots foreseen. More specifically the platform will enable the visualisation of results in a 3D digital twin environment of each pilot

• Pilot 1 |LS|Ljubljana, Slovenia|RS| - Trust and comfort levels about Level > 3 of driving automation on various road network segment enabling quick recognition of passenger sentiment.
• Pilot 2 |LS|Athens, Greece|RS| – Global and per road segment evaluation of traffic management strategies such as dynamic lane reversal and platooning in various scenarios (typical weekday peaks,  planned/unplanned disruptions, special events).
• Pilot 3 |LS|Modena, Italy|RS|: Traffic forecasts and real-time infrastructure monitoring with early warnings (environmental, operational efficiency and safety) in an urban environment.
• Pilot 4 |LS|Bursa, Turkey|RS|:  Autonomous tow truck fleet monitoring and management.

More information about the Crimson Digital Twin in the project here.