Conceptualising value in public sector geospatial information for digital twins

Abstract

Digital twins (DTs) are digital representations of physical entities where data connections synchronise the physical and digital states at a specified frequency. While DTs originated in manufacturing and aerospace, they are increasingly applied at geographic scales addressing urban issues. As a result, DTs must utilise geospatial information (GI) to represent the built environment, though this is often an implicit aspect. Public sector geospatial information (PSGI), typically produced by National Mapping and Cadastral Agencies (NMCA) is a particular type of GI that serves as an authoritative, foundational component to geospatial applications. However, the value of this PSGI as foundation component of DTs is not well understood. Existing GI valuation methodologies do not account for the unique characteristics of foundational PSGI, or its role within DTs , leaving NMCAs unable to justify investment, and adapt their contributions, to emerging DTs. To address this gap, this study applies Jabareen’s (2009) conceptual framework analysis methodology to define what value means in the context of PSGI in DTs. The analysis identifies seven value enablers and five value dimensions that characterise PSGI value in DTs and provide the basis for future quantitative valuation methodologies. These concepts are integrated through an urban infrastructure DT example and synthesised through boundary case analysis. The resulting conceptual understanding enables NMCAs to systematically articulate and evidence their contributions to DTs.