College of Architecture faculty launch Texas A&M Digital Twin project to optimize campus using data
Texas A&M University will soon have a “digital twin” of its College Station campus. The interactive 3D model aims to optimize campus planning, efficiency and even aid in emergencies by providing first responders with estimates of how many people are in a certain location should a situation occur.
This data-driven project will ultimately help in reducing commute times, improving class scheduling and maximizing classroom usage. It also considers factors like building complexity and distance between classrooms, which traditional scheduling tools overlook.
The project is led by Dr. Xinyue Ye, professor of urban planning, and involves researchers from the Center for Geospatial Sciences, Applications and Technology and the College of Architecture including: Dr. Galen Newman, head of the Department of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning; Dr. Patrick Suermann, interim dean of the College of Architecture; and Dr. Shannon Van Zandt, coordinator of urban and regional sciences Ph.D. program.
The project is supported by the university’s Vice President for Planning, Assessment and Strategy.
