Digital Twin Munich

The development of Munich’s Digital Twin is driven by real-world urban challenges and the operational needs of the city administration. Consequently, the extensive database is steadily improving in both content and quality, the digital ecosystem is gaining new functions and applications, and the range of visualization and analysis options continues to expand.

Data analyses and visualizations based on 2D and 3D geospatial data include, for example, solar potential and shading analysis for photovoltaic system planning, sightline analysis for high-rise projects, "as-planned vs. as-is" comparisons for potential street-space reallocation, and simulations of urban greening and its impact on the city’s climate. Visualizations using virtual or augmented reality—or even games like Minecraft—make planning proposals more tangible.

By presenting complex information in an accessible way, it is possible to better engage everyone from political and administrative decision-makers to the citizens of Munich.

The foundation of Munich’s Digital Twin consists of municipal geospatial base data, such as the official cadastre, aerial imagery, and street-level survey data. In addition to 2D data, this includes 3D data that is continuously captured and updated. City-wide mobile mapping and aerial imaging campaigns are conducted regularly to ensure the currency and quality of the data foundation. These photo-based captures subsequently serve to create further—specifically logical—data layers. This process strengthens the data sovereignty of the state capital, Munich.

Depending on the specific use case, specialized data from across the entire municipal organization supplements the base data with necessary domain-specific information. This includes the integration of sensor data capable of providing real-time and time-series data as needed—for instance, in the context of climate adaptation, where metrics such as weather data, groundwater levels, and air pollutants are measured in real time.

Unified data governance guidelines ensure data quality and data protection, while also defining roles and responsibilities.

Combined with the digital ecosystem, this geospatial base and specialized data creates a digital replica of the real city.

The digital ecosystem of the Digital Twin consists of a modular IT architecture that is maintained and continuously developed using agile methods. From an IT perspective, this enables the rapid and flexible implementation of use cases through the recombination of individual components. These components include (geo)data storage and provision, analysis and simulation tools, and capabilities for visualization and interaction.

A catalog serves as the central access point for all municipal employees to locate the (geo)data and solution components.

Access to the Digital Twin’s (geo)data is facilitated by standardized, vendor-neutral interfaces. This allows the data to be used outside the digital ecosystem as well, including in numerous specialized applications.

The combination of these technical components and processes thus forms the digital ecosystem of Munich’s Digital Twin, which is continuously evolved based on specific use cases.

Munich’s Digital Twin is a collaborative effort involving the entire "City Family." Twelve of the city’s fifteen administrative departments, as well as municipal enterprises and city-affiliated companies—such as Münchner Wohnen and Stadtwerke München—are participating in the project. Furthermore, the ongoing development of Munich’s Digital Twin is supported by research institutions to ensure the successful integration of innovative approaches and the latest research findings.

The diverse range of institutions involved—both within and outside the city administration—is collectively referred to as the "City Family." Through successful collaboration, various use cases can be implemented based on their specific requirements regarding data, analysis, and visualization, while synergies between these different use cases are created. This results in numerous urban digital twins that support the specialist departments in carrying out their tasks.