A sustainable future: How AI and digital twins are helping ESG and sustainability efforts in construction, industry and city planning.

Artificial intelligence, machine learning, and digital twins -- why are we hearing so much about them and why do they suddenly seem critical? The simplest explanation is this: When something is too complex for a human to easily process or there is too little time for a human to make a critical decision, the only choice is to remove the human. That requires the ability to replicate the thought process a human might go through, which requires a lot of data and a deep understanding of the decision environment. For decades, we saw huge advancements come primarily from the integration and shrinking of electronics. Smaller products, consuming less power, and offering dramatic increases in functionality per square inch were the hallmarks of technology progress.

Globally, as of 2020, 55% of people live in cities according to the World Bank and by 2050 that number is estimated to reach 70% of the worldwide population, totaling nearly 7 billion urban inhabitants. With this unprecedented growth, the challenges of making these environments safe, healthy, productive, and thriving have never been more difficult. Governments worldwide are also under pressure to reduce costs while at the same time improving and modernizing services. These dual pressures are pushing cities to be smarter and look to innovative tech solutions to help drive outcomes. It is in this context that we see the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Digital Twins as they are applied more frequently to address the most pressing concerns for city officials and constituents.