How does extreme heavy rain affect my residential building? Visitors were able to find out at the "Long Night of Science" on June 20, 2025. This was made possible by the prototype of an urban digital twin.

Recognizing potential damage and options for action during heavy rainfall events

Katja Maerker (Environmental Agency of the state capital) and Lars Backhaus (Institute of Hydraulic Engineering and Technical Hydromechanics, TU Dresden) are working on the Smart-Cityenvironmental monitoring project. The aim of the project is to map the city of Dresden using a virtual 3D model. In this so-called "urban digital twin", streets, buildings and watercourses are modeled so that flooding hazards caused by heavy rainfall and Elbe flooding can be precisely depicted. The heavy rain twin is to become the center of an information portal with a web application. As soon as real-time sensor data is fed in, users will be able to assess potential damage and possible courses of action for buildings or risks to the navigability of roads during heavy rainfall.

Prototype and information on the topic of heavy rain

At the stand in the courtyard of the Hubert Engels Laboratory, numerous visitors had the opportunity to test the prototype during the Dresden Long Night of Science. They were able to search for their residential building and view the dangers of different weather events.

The team also provided extensive information: on building precautions against heavy rain, an online survey on damage caused by heavy rain and the Climate-adapted construction and renovation website. Families were particularly pleased with the Pixi booklet "Heavy rain and drought".

The heavy rain twin itself met with great interest. External visitors, as well as students and colleagues, were enthusiastic about the spatial visualization of data, which makes the complex effects clear even to laypeople. Users also gave their feedback on usability - important information for making the application more user-friendly.

Heavy rain twin soon to be tested publicly

The prototype of the urban digital heavy rain twin is set to reach its next stage of development in the fall of 2025. It is then planned to publish a test version on the internet. The application will be further improved based on feedback.