Surveyor General also presented SoP’s project proposal for creating Islamabad 3D Digital Twin - a pioneering effort to develop Islamabad as a data-driven smart city in which SoP can contribute valuably by adding the geospatial layer to MoIT&T’s ongoing Islamabad Smart City Initiative. Once undertaken jointly by MoIT&T, SoP and CDA, this project will utilize drone imagery to enhance geospatial data layers, 3D scanning to create realistic digital models of the built environment and IoT data for real-time updates. This digital replica of Islamabad will support urban planning, fair taxation, environmental monitoring, disaster management and land, water and infrastructure management of Islamabad. SoP also proposed the establishment of a National Geospatial Academy to train professionals in advanced mapping, remote sensing and AI-assisted spatial analytics.

The Honorable Minister appreciated SoP’s proposal for development of Islamabad 3D Digital Twin, emphasizing its importance for data-driven governance and smart urban management. The meeting concluded with the Minister’s directive to review and finalize the details and timeline for project implementation.

Islamabad 3D Digital Twin Project Proposal

A digital twin is a linked virtual model of any physical object. By connecting real-time data of that object into its digital representation, programmed with mathematical models, AI and pattern recognition to faithfully recreate its digital sibling, the digital twin of that object is created. Once constantly updated with data from the physical object, its digital twin enables users to analyse data, monitor systems and run simulations exactly as if they were working with the original physical object.

Digital twin concept has numerous applications such as testing new equipment or structure designs, conducting diagnostics on maintenance systems, enabling more effective city management etc. In the context of a smart city, it continuously collects information from the built environment through drones, 3D scanners, sensors and mobile devices etc to give a the latest picture. An urban digital twin acquires data from sources including vehicles, buildings, utilities infrastructure and even individuals, which is enhanced with data captured by smart city devices and Internet of Things (IoT), supplemented with the use of AI and advanced analytics. Cities including Singapore, Sydney and Madrid etc are already using digital twins and if Islamabad 3D Digital Twin is operationalized, it will make Islamabad the first data-driven smart capital city in South Asia having Digital Twin.

This proposal by SoP — in collaboration with MoIT&T and CDA — aims to create a high-resolution, dynamic model of Islamabad that can serve as the spatial backbone of Islamabad Smart City Initiative. It will allow CDA to plan, monitor and manage Islamabad using real-time, data-driven tools — strengthening the Islamabad Smart City vision under the Digital Pakistan agenda