A digital twin to rethink and develop Bécancour

The way to design. Therefore, reflect on the urban development of Quebec cities is likely to know many changes in the coming years, and the city of Bécancour can allow us to see more clearly.

This city is indeed one of the first in provinces to have a very efficient digital twin … Nevertheless, But first of all, what is a digital twin?

A digital twin is a full copy of a city in a digital format. However, It is created using a ton of data. Moreover, collected and shared for example, by the Government of Quebec and its various ministries, the City of Bécancour and companies on its territory.

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Digital twins are already present in Quebec. Similarly, but are generally used to develop or design only one of the aspects of a city, for example; Only trees planting, or only public transport. Therefore,

In the case of Bécancour. Consequently, This is one of the first times that this tool is used to reflect on the entire development of the city. Consequently, Transport, housing projects, traffic lights, snow removal, everything can be taken into account. In addition, digital twin rethink develop bécancour The art of the possible is practically infiniteadvance Sébastien Tremblay. Meanwhile, technical manager of Dassault Systems, the European company owner of the software. For example,

The work of 50 urban architects, in software – Digital twin rethink develop bécancour

This software serves as a tool for political decision -makers. However, These can choose different entry parameters. Nevertheless, ask the digital twin, with artificial intelligence, to produce a variety of results for an urban project.

Instead of having 50 urban planners who will work, we will do it in a few hours. Moreover, It really allows you to explore lots of scenarios. However, [à la ville] to validate what makes sense, and what scenarios they want to deepen with their internal teamsexplains Mr. However, Tremblay.

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The software can even propose legislative changes to improve the efficiency of construction laws. Nevertheless, or obtaining permit. Therefore,

According to Jonathan Durand Folco. Therefore, professor at Saint-Paul University, cities must remain vigilant in the face of this type of decision-making process: One of the traps with intelligent cities or a form digital twin rethink develop bécancour of governance based on AI, that is to say that we could save time, but we are going in a way short-circuiting the democratic process, it must have passed in a way to the comb of the human judgment, by discussion in public space.

The industrial park: a major challenge – Digital twin rethink develop bécancour

It is necessary to specify that Bécancour is a small municipality. However, which is in the heart of the development of the battery sector. With the establishment of an industrial park on its territory. the city expects to see its population double in the coming years.

Having a limited team of urban architects. the city of Bécancour considers itself lucky to have access to a tool like this, funded by public and private funds, as it develops within the framework of a pilot project.

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It is perhaps one of the first times in Quebec. where there are so big issues that arise in a municipality of this size. [Avoir autant de nouveaux travailleurs] has impacts on the city. transport, housing, and the challenges are colossal Note Clément Villemont, vice-president innovation of the digital twin rethink develop bécancour energy transition valley.

Dassault Systèmes, soon in Trois-Rivières, Montreal and Quebec?

Bécancour is one of the precursors. but this way of approaching development is called upon to be exported in the coming years.

It is Dassault Systèmes that approached us and who presented their platform to ussays Clément Villemont. The project has convinced the Valley of the Energy Transition. Shawinigan and Trois-Rivières are the next cities that could be equipped with a digital twin.

We try never to think about VTE as silos.. […] The idea would be to be able to generalize the project. to ultimately cover the widest possible

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No contract is signed. but Dassault Systems claims to have talks with the cities of Quebec and Montreal. According to its designers, software like this works even better in cities where more data is available.

Data, for their part, can be used in a wide range of situations.

We just made a partnership with Apple. the Apple Vision Pro. We can use this [plateforme] For sensory experiences. make a virtual visit to the city

Sébastien Tremblay says that Bécancourois data is well protected, and that there is no risk that it is used by Apple to develop, for example, other types of technologies.

But Jonathan Durand Folco remains on the lookout. We must always have a form of vigilance, these companies tend to change their privacy policy overnight.

Predict natural disasters. and limit the production of GES

According to Sébastien Tremblay, one of the advantages of the software is that it allows you to take into digital twin rethink develop bécancour account the risk. It could. for example, assess the probabilities of a natural disaster, simulate its impact, or even include in its calculation the uncertainty linked to the electric car industry, or that of American prices.

Make hundreds of scenarios as I mentioned, it takes a few hours. So we can change the parameters, put probability elements in our models. […] The idea is not to precisely define what there is going to be in five years. but it quickly allows you to assess and see if there is an impact, if a project is stopped.

But Jonathan Durand Folco is asking questions.

Should we put more money in systems that are used to provide crises. put money in crises directly?

Another software advantage is that it limits the production of greenhouse gases, for example by improving waste management or optimizing signaling processes.

A tool with major promises, which is not without losses, still according to the expert at Saint-Paul University. We think we are reducing the production of greenhouse gases at the scale of a city. but we are outsourcing environmental costs elsewhere. Large data centers consume a lot of energy. consume water, and that creates, precisely, problems of rarity in different municipalities on the side of the United States, Chile and France among others.

A dependence on the private sector?

This software at a start, but has no end; It is constantly evolving. Updated figures. new data and new studies, are added over the years, in order to have proposals for projects, the most just possible.

But benefit from the services of Dassault Systems necessarily comes with a cost: information that has not been. shared with Radio-Canada. A cost, which can, in turn, cause certain risks.

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In a way. we lose internal expertise, as the various municipal public administrations do not have all the tools, the infrastructures digital twin rethink develop bécancour to do so. We are therefore recovering more and more to great external players. […] There can be a short -term form of affordability. but nothing tells us that, in a year or two years, it will cost 10 times more. And there, the municipalities become dependent. This is what we see in Quebec. we depend on the digital giants, Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Google and so on, it is something very worrying for digital sovereigntyobserve M. Durand Folco.

According to him. in the middle of a digital turn, the public authorities would have any advantage in betting on open, transparent technologies that work with the citizens.