A leading think tank in the field of space, geospatial and digital-twin technologies, GeoSpatial World has unveiled a pivotal study revealing the urgent need for a National Digital Twin Policy that would not only augment ongoing deep-tech strategies like space, geospatial technology, AI and the Deep Sea Mission, but would also amplify their collective impact towards productivity gains and through sustainable and resilient Indian infrastructure. This comprehensive policy framework is set to be a gamechanger, aligning with India’s ambitious Vision 2047 goals and addressing both current and future challenges. As the nation sets its sights on becoming a $40 trillion economy by 2047, the role of advanced technologies in managing projects has never been more critical. As Sanjay Kumar, CEO, Geospatial World, shares, in the face of monumental infrastructure demands, a National Digital Twin Policy is not just a vision but a necessity and will position India at the forefront of global infrastructure innovation. Excerpts: Please share the key findings of your study. As part of Geospatial World’s policy advocacy initiative, we released the ‘Digital Twin Strategy for Indian Infrastructure’, which proposes a National Digital Twin Policy for the country. The implementation of such a policy is critical to modernise and strengthen the country’s infrastructure sector. The study finds that while the Government of India is investing substantial amounts in infrastructure every year, many projects do not use the latest technologies, resulting in poor quality infrastructure with reduced lifespans and high operation and maintenance costs. The construction industry is one of the least digitalised sectors globally and in India, this issue is more pronounced, highlighting the urgent need to establish a common data environment. There is also a significant lack of standards and interoperability between different workflows and data models, leading to difficulties in data sharing across various stakeholders. Because most infrastructure projects do not incorporate geospatial knowledge, making them non-compliant with disaster-resilient models, the resultant effect is frequent infrastructure collapses during disasters. Recent examples are the collapse of Terminal 1 of Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport, roof collapse at Jabalpur airport, cracks appearing in the newly inaugurated Atal Setu Bridge in Mumbai, collapse of the newly built infrastructure and inundation of streets following pre-monsoon rains in Ayodhya and multiple bridge collapses in Bihar. Further, because India lacks technology-driven policy frameworks to ensure the use of state-of-the-art technology and applications in infrastructure development, the use of technology is minimal. Developing a National Digital Twin Policy would address these issues by promoting standardisation, ensuring disaster resilience and anchoring the use of advanced technologies, leading to cost-efficiency, enhanced productivity, compliance and quality control in infrastructure projects. In view of this suggested policy framework, what challenges do you foresee along the way? While the framework brings together the concept of geographic information systems (GIS), BIM, AI and IoT to develop digital twins, key challenges include securing the necessary funding by 2040 and overcoming slow technological adoption owing to skill gaps and resistance to change within traditional industries. With a shortage of trained professionals proficient in advanced technologies like geospatial, BIM and digital twins, the use of systems becomes difficult and almost negligible across construction workflows. Navigating regulatory and bureaucratic hurdles will also be critical. Ensuring data security and privacy amid increased digital integration is another concern, requiring robust cybersecurity measures. Addressing these challenges will require innovative financing, comprehensive training programmes, streamlined approval processes, strong data governance and a steadfast commitment to green building standards and climate-resilient designs, ensuring that India's infrastructure can support its vision of becoming a $40 trillion economy by 2047. How will such a policy provide technology integration across the entire lifecycle of infrastructure? A National Digital Twin Policy will integrate advanced technologies to revolutionise the entire lifecycle of the Indian infrastructure sector. GIS will offer spatial data and mapping capabilities essential for planning and managing infrastructure projects, providing accurate geographical context for site selection, environmental impact analysis and resource allocation. BIM will deliver detailed 3-D models and comprehensive information about the physical and functional aspects of infrastructure, facilitating better design, construction and maintenance processes. AI will analyse vast amounts of data to predict maintenance needs, optimise operations and enhance decision-making, ensuring efficiency and cost-effectiveness. And IoT will enable real-time data collection from infrastructure assets, allowing for continuous monitoring and proactive maintenance. Together, these technologies will create a holistic digital representation of physical infrastructure, improving coordination, reducing project reworks by up to 20 per cent, increasing production output by 10 per cent and decreasing asset management downtime by 30 per cent. Our report presents a comprehensive digital-twin architecture, encompassing these technologies, which highlight how GIS, BIM, AI and IoT technologies are at the core of digital twins. An integration of these technologies will enhance energy-efficiency, reduce waste and encourage environment-friendly designs, ultimately supporting India's ambitious infrastructure goals. In 2023, India’s infrastructure market was valued at Rs.15.47 trillion. But to sustain this growth, the country will need over Rs.374 trillion by 2040. How will this massive funding come about? To secure over Rs.374 trillion in investments by 2040, India needs to adopt a multifaceted approach. The 2024-2025 budget has increased infrastructure allocation to Rs.12 trillion, reflecting continued public investment. Private-sector participation needs to be encouraged through PPPs, with reduced regulatory hurdles and tax incentives. International financial institutions like the World Bank and Asian Development Bank can provide additional funding and technical assistance for India. Further, the Government’s initiatives with respect to infrastructure investment trusts (InvITs) and real-estate investment trusts (REITs) will attract institutional and retail investors, while sovereign wealth funds and pension funds will also play a crucial role. Moreover, innovative financing mechanisms, such as green bonds and municipal bonds, will be used to attract capital for sustainable projects. A strategy encompassing multiple funding mechanisms will help mobilise funds to meet India’s infrastructure goals and sustain its economic growth. How can sustainability be a major advantage of this policy? Geospatial World’s suggested National Digital Twin policy for Indian infrastructure is aimed at significantly enhancing sustainability by improving energy-efficiency, reducing waste and promoting environment-friendly designs. For example, in smart buildings, digital twins enable real-time monitoring of HVAC systems and lighting and optimising of operations to reduce energy consumption. One real-world example is that of the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore, which uses digital-twin technology to monitor and manage energy usage, achieving significant energy savings. Advanced sensors and scanners such as LiDAR and GPR are crucial for terrain mapping and asset management. How will it benefit Indian equipment players? For Indian equipment manufacturers, the projected market growth of `24.70 billion by 2025 translates to several key strategic outcomes. First, there is a substantial increase in demand for advanced geospatial equipment, which will drive production and sales. Indian companies that manufacture LiDAR and GPR systems will experience heightened market opportunities, both domestically and internationally. This demand will not only boost revenue but also encourage further investment in R&D, leading to production of more sophisticated and efficient equipment, reducing reliance on foreign equipment and achieving self-reliance. Moreover, the increased demand enhances the global competitiveness of Indian equipment players. As they produce cutting-edge technology, they position themselves as leaders in the global market. This competitive edge is crucial to enter global markets and grow India’s geospatial readiness and technology capacity, capability and adoption within the Indian transport sector. As the urban development geospatial market may reach Rs.34.45 billion by 2025, how will it benefit India in the long term? This anticipated growth reflects a substantial shift towards GIS adoption in infrastructure planning and urban development. Budget 2024-2025 is a testament to the growing importance of GIS in infrastructure planning – significant investments in land-related reforms will focus on digitisation, including the assignment of unique land parcel identification numbers for rural areas and GIS mapping for urban land records. This encompasses digitising terrestrial maps, land surveys and establishing a land registry with unique Aadhaar identifiers for all lands. These efforts aim to streamline land administration and urban planning, enhancing efficiency and transparency through geospatial technology. Using GIS, or geospatial, BIM and digital-twin technologies, we are looking at smarter, more efficient and sustainable cities. - R SRINIVASAN