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  • Perspective
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Potential and limitations of digital twins to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals

Nature Sustainability volume 5, pages 822–829 (2022)Cite this article

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Abstract

Could computer simulation models drive our ambitions to sustainability in urban and non-urban environments? Digital twins, defined here as real-time, virtual replicas of physical and biological entities, may do just that. However, despite their touted potential, digital twins have not been examined critically in urban sustainability paradigms—not least in the Sustainable Development Goals framework. Accordingly, in this Perspective, we examine their benefits in promoting the Sustainable Development Goals. Then, we discuss critical limitations when modelling socio-technical and socio-ecological systems and go on to discuss measures to treat these limitations and design inclusive, reliable and responsible computer simulations for achieving sustainable development.

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Fig. 1: Snapshot of the Fishermans Bend Digital Twin urban planning overlays.
Fig. 2: Snapshot of the University of Melbourne’s digital twin SDG workflow.
Fig. 3: Snapshot of the University of Melbourne’s digital twin citizen interface.
Fig. 4: Indicative applications of digital twins spanning the 17 SDGs.

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Acknowledgements

This paper was made possible through the support of a grant from Templeton World Charity Foundation, Inc. The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Templeton World Charity Foundation, Inc. We thank Y. Chen from the University of Melbourne for supporting the production of Figs. 1–3.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Cambridge, Centre for the Study of Existential Risk (CSER), Cambridge, UK

    Asaf Tzachor & Catherine E. Richards

  2. Reichman University (IDC Herzliya), School of Sustainability, Herzliya, Israel

    Asaf Tzachor

  3. University of Melbourne, School of Engineering, Department of Infrastructure Engineering, Centre for SDIs and Land Administration, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

    Soheil Sabri & Abbas Rajabifard

  4. University of Cambridge, Department of Engineering, Cambridge, UK

    Catherine E. Richards

  5. University of Melbourne, Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

    Michele Acuto

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Contributions

A.T., S.S., C.E.R., A.R. and M.A. developed the paper jointly and all contributed equally to the writing of the text.

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Correspondence to Asaf Tzachor.

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A.T., C.E.R., S.S. and M.A. declare no competing interests. A.R. manages the Centre for Spatial Data Infrastructures and Land Administration (CSDILA) at the University of Melbourne. CSDILA developed the Fishermans Bend Digital Twin proof of concept in partnership with the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP), State Government of Victoria, Australia.

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Nature Sustainability thanks Thomas Clemen, Fabian Dembski, Andrew Karvonen and Jack Stilgoe for their contribution to the peer review of this work.

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Tzachor, A., Sabri, S., Richards, C.E. et al. Potential and limitations of digital twins to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Nat Sustain 5, 822–829 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41893-022-00923-7

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