Barcelona digital twin technology is set for a major upgrade following new partnerships with global tech giants Nvidia and Lenovo.
Your browser does not support the video tag.
The American startup Aretian, creator of the metropolitan area’s virtual model, announced the collaboration during a Barcelona Global event at Telefónica’s headquarters. This alliance promises to transform urban planning capabilities across the Barcelona metropolitan region, covering more than five million residents.
Barcelona Digital Twin Achieves 250-Fold Precision Boost
The digital twin has undergone substantial expansion over the past year, according to Aretian founder and urbanist Ramon Gras. Consequently, the system has progressed from analysing metropolitan territory by census sections to examining individual parcels. This represents a 250-fold increase in precision, moving from approximately 3,400 census sections to 753,000 individual plots across Greater Barcelona.
Furthermore, the partnership will migrate the digital twin to Nvidia’s platform while leveraging Lenovo’s AI chips to reduce computational costs. The technological enhancements will enable photorealistic imaging and real-time analysis of urban indicators. Meanwhile, the collaboration builds on existing relationships, including Lenovo’s longstanding work with the Barcelona Supercomputing Center.
Jumbi Edulbehram, Nvidia’s Global Director of Smart Spaces and Public Sector, emphasised that beyond technological advancement, the partnership aims to improve people’s lives through practical applications. He celebrated how artificial intelligence makes tools like Aretian’s more accessible and noted the collaboration will “surpass the limits” of urban analysis through data and technology.
Telefónica’s General Director Chema Casas described the Barcelona digital twin as “a new opportunity” to consolidate the city’s position as an AI reference point. He announced intentions to work “side by side” with project leaders to make Barcelona one of the first cities worldwide with a fully integrated digital twin.
The event also featured roundtable discussions examining the future of metropolitan Barcelona and the possibilities offered by new analytical tools. Participants highlighted the need for joint planning that extends beyond Barcelona city limits, enabling coordinated approaches to challenges like housing and mobility across the metropolitan area.
Ramon Agenjo, President of Barcelona Global, declared the November 3rd announcement marked the beginning of something important for the Catalan capital and its metropolitan area. The enhanced Barcelona digital twin represents a significant step toward international relevance in urban technology and smart city development.
Stay connected with us on social media for the latest updates and news!
TikTok | Instagram | YouTube | X
Source: Read original article
