Digital twins are quickly becoming a staple solution for enterprise XR clients. The technology’s similarity to pre-existing systems enables the easy integration of XR within a range of business environments, such as construction and healthcare, helping drive the adoption of immersive solutions and devices.
A group leading enterprise integration of digital twins is the Orlando Economic Partnership (OEP). This economic and community development organization leverages digital twin and XR technology to promote regional growth, including enhancing the local economy, attracting companies, boosting job creation, driving investment, and fueling competitiveness.
Recently, the OEP gained recognition from the Fast Company. The firm named the OEP’s digital twin one of the next “big things” in XR technology in 2023. This year was a busy one for the XR industry; following a lull in faith towards the start of the year, groups such as the OEP, Microsoft, and Meta worked to bring new life to the sector via substantial workplace XR solutions.
The President and CEO of the OEP, Tim Giuliani, said:
Being named one of Fast Company’s Next Big Things in Tech and included among many of the world’s most innovative companies showcases the strength of Orlando’s technology and innovation ecosystem. It is recognition that our region is on the cutting edge of emerging technology, shaping the future by pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in experiential entertainment and immersive, data-driven economic and community development. Moreso, this win further solidifies Orlando’s reputation as the MetaCenter of the digital revolution and highlights how innovation makes Orlando Unbelievably Real.
Leading into the new year with firms like Microsoft and Apple promising to change how the world works with immersive solutions. Enterprise end users should take note of success stories like that at the OEP if they want to leverage the potential positive outcomes of XR for their industry.
Working with Unity for Operational Success
The OEP digital twin project marks the largest of its kind, simulating 800 square miles of the famed region as a 3D render that OEP staff or visitors can interact with via a large-scale screen.
The OEP displays the digital twin at its new downtown Orlando, Florida headquarters, ready for potential regional partners to view the area and related core data points, which help visitors understand a place of business growth, all from one room.
The project also allows the OEP to address various transportation, climate change, and utility management issues. Moreover, the model uses real-time data from the city to keep the digital twin updated and reflect any changes happening in the city, such as construction, public engagement, and scenario planning.
The OEP digital twin solution leverages the Unity RT3D development engine to deliver a robust solution ready for a smooth presentation. The Unity integration also enables the OEP to integrate other related solutions into the product.
For example, in April, Dave Rhodes, the GM and senior VP of Digital Twins at Unity, explained how his firm would be able to integrate related XR technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), simulation, and analytics to improve digital twin workflows at OEP and to match the growing number of use cases the team is receiving.
Unity’s digital technology unlocks data from proprietary formats, making merging anything into one virtual experience more effortless and allowing stakeholders to collaborate, simulate, and make better decisions.
The partnership enables the OEP to display land and real estate data to potential clients from different industries, helping with relocation and expansion projects. It also supports the region’s Broad-based Prosperity initiative, which aims to enhance the economy and quality of life by working with local businesses, community leaders, and governments.
