Digital Twin of a Region: Perm Krai Becomes a Pilot Site for Managing the Future
At the Perm Development Forum 'Cities of the Future,' Rostelecom unveiled a groundbreaking domestic solution—an integrated platform for managing a region in real time. The digital twin consolidates data from housing and utilities, transportation, ecology, economy, and social services, transforming fragmented information into a strategic asset for decision-making.
Technology Components
The regional digital twin is a sophisticated system that combines geoinformation technologies, artificial intelligence, streaming analytics, and data exchange mechanisms. Numerous sensors constantly collect information about urban infrastructure—from the wear and tear of utility networks and road surface quality to air pollution levels and traffic density.
The collected data is transformed into a three-dimensional model of the territory, creating a living digital replica of the region. Artificial intelligence analyzes this information, identifies potential problems, and suggests solutions, while simultaneously forecasting future developments. This turns the platform into an operational center of the future, capable of proactively responding to urban challenges.
Evolution of Digitalization in Perm Krai
The development of digital modeling in Perm Krai has a history. Back in 2019, Russia’s Ministry of Construction launched a digitalization project in Perm and Berezniki, employing modern digital and engineering approaches. Then, in March 2024, Rostelecom introduced a more specialized solution—a city digital twin focused on road infrastructure management.
The current platform is an evolutionary step forward, expanding from transport infrastructure to all aspects of urban life. It is the natural result of five years of consistent digital transformation in the region.
Practical Benefits for Everyone
For ordinary citizens, the digital twin means more reliable operation of utilities and public transport, improved safety, and greater comfort in the urban environment. The system enables rapid response to accidents and emergencies, minimizing negative consequences.
Regional authorities gain a tool for strategically precise resource allocation and effective territorial management. The business community gains access to reliable analytics for investment decisions and risk reduction. At the national level, the platform provides transparency and centralized oversight of ongoing processes.
Staying Ahead of Global Experience
The concept of city digital twins is gaining traction worldwide, driven by growing urbanization and increasing pressure on infrastructure.
Rostelecom’s development aligns with global trends and even surpasses many international counterparts in its level of integration across management domains. In the United States, Europe, and Asia, similar systems are typically implemented at the municipal level, not at the scale of entire regions.
Beyond the National Project Boundaries
The implementation of a regional digital twin serves as a practical tool for advancing Russia’s national 'Data Economy' project. The platform addresses key objectives: ensuring high-quality information exchange between agencies, eliminating digital gaps, and transforming fragmented data into a coherent strategic asset.
Future prospects include exporting these solutions to other regions and countries, developing standardized cloud modules for various urban management domains, and integrating with large-scale projects in ecology, transportation, and energy efficiency.
The digital twin of Perm Krai is not merely a virtual copy of the region but a dynamic, evolving system that offers new opportunities for managing the urban environment and improving quality of life.
