City leaders can now predict the future with 5G

By: Chelsea Collier Originally published by Verizon

The United Nations predicts that two-thirds of the world’s population will live in an urban area by the year 2050, resulting in 43 megacities (urban areas with more than 10 million residents). This concentration of human activity presents the potential for serious strain on transportation, utility and communications systems. Add the looming challenges associated with climate change and a global pandemic, and you have a recipe for uncertainty on an epic scale.

At the same time that city populations are surging, sensors and data collecting devices are proliferating. The Internet of Things (IoT) is expected to expand to almost 42 billion connected devices by 2025, generating more than 79 zettabytes of data. (One zettabyte is 1 trillion gigabytes.)

If applied thoughtfully, this massive collection of information can be used to better understand, plan and prioritize urban coping mechanisms. By more clearly visualizing the data and matching it with real challenges, we can shape the future. Welcome to the era of the digital twin (DT).

Click here to read the full article

Photo by Ralph (Ravi) Kayden on Unsplash