Seoul: South Korean internet giant Naver Corp. announced the completion of digital twin platforms for three major Saudi Arabian cities as part of the Middle Eastern nation's smart city initiative. The platforms cover the cities of Mecca, Medina, and Jeddah, spanning approximately 6,800 square kilometers, which is about 11 times the size of Seoul, and include data on over 920,000 buildings.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the digital twin platforms are based on high-precision 3D modeling and offer various urban planning support features and analytical tools. These tools include terrain analysis, skyline and sunlight exposure simulations for landscape and view planning, and real-time verification of building designs. The platform also enables disaster simulation capabilities, such as flood forecasting and risk analysis.
Balady, Saudi Arabia's national digital platform, which commissioned the project, plans to expand the digital twin platform to additional cities. Naver secured the contract in October 2023 and initiated the project in July of the previous year. "We will continue to enhance the platform, expand its regional coverage and discover new use cases in cooperation with local partners," a Naver official said.