Digital twin shows effects of heavy rainfall

Model project Smart City presents prototype

Flooded cellars, overloaded sewerage systems, flooding: Heavy rain can cause enormous damage and endanger human lives. In 2024, heavy rain and flooding caused 2.6 billion euros in damage across Germany. The model project Smart City of the state capital Dresden and the Technical University Dresden (TUD) is the first to publish a prototype of a digital 3D application that can be used to better assess storms and their effects.

The digital twin Dresdens reproduces a real model of the city Dresden. It simulates the consequences of heavy rainfall of around 30 to 50 litres per square metre per hour and shows possible damage to residential buildings in the urban area. In addition, measurement data on precipitation, water levels in bodies of water and air temperature can be called up. The scenarios calculated in this way illustrate correlations and provide valuable input for urban planning.

The online application is now publicly accessible at digitaler-zwilling.dresden.de. Users are invited to share their impressions and experiences of trying out the heavy rain twin with the project team. An online survey has been set up for this purpose at digitaler-zwilling.dresden.de/umfrage.

The digital heavy rain twin is being developed at the Institute of Hydraulic Engineering and Technical Hydromechanics at the TU Dresden. Developer Lars Backhaus: "Bundling complex urban data in one platform and making it usable for heavy rainfall prevention is an exciting challenge. We are integrating previously abstract information into a powerful tool that offers administration and citizens clear guidance." Such a sophisticated system requires several areas of expertise. Project manager Dr Katja Maerker from the environmental office of the state capital Dresden: "We are very happy that several Dresden partner institutions from administration and science are working together on this project."

A team from the University of Applied Sciences Dresden (HTWD) is developing tools for the 3D visualisation and damage calculation of residential buildings. Data is provided by the Office for Geodata and Cadastre and the urban drainage system Dresden. In future, the model is to be expanded to include an early warning system and sensors to detect flooding in railway subways.

About the model project Smart City Dresden

The model project Smart City Dresden is a co-operative funding project of the state capital Dresden and the Technical University Dresden. It aims to promote strategic digitalisation and sustainable, integrated urban development. Innovative digital solutions, citizen participation formats and technological approaches are being trialled. The project is part of the German government's nationwide funding programme for model projects Smart Cities and is financed by the Federal Ministry of Housing, Urban Development and Building (BMWSB) via the Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW).

Further information and contact details for the project can be found at :

smartcity.dresden.de/projects/environmental-monitoring
www.dresden.de/starkregen