Thousands of global smart city and infrastructure build-back-better projects could be enabled by the Digital Twin Factory alliance between US companies Agile Fractal Grid (AFG), Cityzenith and Fractal Twins.

Digital twins –detailed virtual 3D models driven by massed data – have already been hailed as key to an expansive age of sustainable and efficient architecture, planning and infrastructure. They can also help drive down carbon emissions in the face of climate change.

The roll-out of this technology is now being accelerated, say the three partners.

Massachusetts-based AFG has developed a fractal system of systems able to design and integrate new age communications, energy and other infrastructures.

Chicago-based Cityzenith created the SmartWorldOS digital twin (DT) platform that will power the DT factory rollout and is already committed to an urban de-carbonisation mission.

Fractal Twins is a new company established to deliver a supported and customised version of SmartWorldOS as a part of AFG’s Fractal family of products and services.

Fractal Twins CEO Ron Toll said: “This is an exciting opportunity not only for three ground-breaking companies, but for our world, as we enter a new age, one shaken by recent global events but alive to new technology and new directions.”

Their long-term agreement follows 2020 talks as AFG developed a smart infrastructure and carbon-neutral, energy grid project and SmartWorldOS was selected for the software platform services.

“This contract hot wires Cityzenith’s own versatile DT platform into our network to unlock enhanced opportunities and visions as the world seeks to build back better after Covid-19 and respond to the immense challenges posed by climate change,” said AFG CEO John Reynolds. “Smart cities, infrastructures and energy grids are the key to meeting that threat and the global ambitions set under the 2015 Paris Agreement.”

Cityzenith CEO Michael Jansen added: “We have reached critical mass by adding Fractal Twins to the mix, enabling us to accelerate creation of hundreds, or even thousands of DT projects that work off the same blueprint patterns. We can now go global with speeding post-Covid recovery and driving down global emissions to avoid the devastating human and economic cost of climate change.”

Effectively, he said, the aim was to create an embedded SmartWorldOS digital twin studio – a factory – to deliver at scale for Fractal Twins and AFG, customised to specific functionality, smart service applications, including energy grids, smart buildings, manufacturing, smart transportation, entertainment, healthcare and agriculture.

“Further, we are establishing a pipeline of cutting-edge projects, highlighting the potential of the merged platforms: clean, renewable energy infrastructure and transition projects in the USA; a communications rollout across the USA; smart cities in the USA, Africa and Canada; global port projects; and energy transition projects in Scandinavia,” said Jansen.