Harnessing digital capabilities at Fishermans Bend for sustainable urban planning

The Digital Twin project will demonstrate the digital future of our cities
The Digital Twin project will demonstrate the digital future of our cities

The Centre for Spatial Data Infrastructures and Land Administration (CSDILA) at the University of Melbourne has been selected by the Victorian Government to design and develop the ‘Digital Twin Demonstrator Project’ at the landmark urban renewal precinct – Fishermans Bend.

Minister for Planning Richard Wynne announced the collaboration, which will demonstrate the digital future of our cities.

The project will create 3D modelling of physical assets, including precise location, design and condition which will enable better decision-making about how to manage current infrastructure and what to build in the future.

A collaborative and a cross-disciplinary approach across government, research and industry will allow CSDILA to aggregate, manage and visualise complex 3D digital information about buildings, infrastructure and city areas, including the capacity to show changes in 4D – over time – so the information can be interpreted.

First initiated by the Strategic Land Assessment and Information (SLAI) division of the Department of Land, Water, Environment and Planning in 2018, this competitive process will see the University partnering with government to help address unresolved challenges of urban renewal, city planning and digital modernisation of land registers.

As Australia’s largest urban renewal precinct, Fishermans Bend is the perfect location to showcase the importance of this urban planning technology as it transforms and grows over the next 30 years.

In time, stakeholders will be able to build intelligent, innovative digital systems either independently or collectively, to coordinate the management of smart, sustainable and liveable cities, suburbs and regional centres. This work starts with the Fishermans Bend precinct.

The Fishermans Bend Digital Twin Demonstrator project adopts FAIR Data Principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) and enables the spatial information to be searched, discovered, aggregated and visualised seamlessly, irrespective of system, model, data content, server or application.

By leveraging CSDILA’s capabilities and technical resources, the Fishermans Bend pilot project will support a more responsible approach to urban renewal and precinct planning activities to help achieve a sustainable future for all. It is one step closer to the realisation of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals in Australia.

Fishermans Bend will soon be home to the University of Melbourne’s new campus for engineering and design and CSDILA’s work is one example of the many research initiatives the University will deliver here.

The University is committed to working with government and industry to deliver research applications that contribute significantly to liveability and economic uplift of the community.

Minister for Planning Richard Wynne said: "This cutting-edge technology will allow architects, planners and the public to look into the future of Fishermans Bend."

Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning SLAI Director Melissa Harris said: "We are building the most innovative technologies in DELWP to ensure better outcomes for the Victorian community."

University of Melbourne CSDILA Director Professor Abbas Rajabifard said: "The Fishermans Bend digital twin allows us to collect, manage and visualise complex information using geospatial innovations to make better decisions about future cities."

More information about Fishermans Bend and the University of Melbourne: https://ourcampus.unimelb.edu.au/fishermans-bend