AI-based Digital Twins for African Cities: Modeling Pedestrians, Bicycles, Moto-Taxis, Cars, Buses and Beyond

This project focuses on creating digital twins of African cities to model and simulate the dynamics of urban mobility. A digital twin is a virtual representation of a physical system that evolves in real-time using data from sensors, cameras, and other sources. In this project, we aim to capture the complexity of multimodal transportation systems, including pedestrians, moto-taxis, bicycles, cars, and public transportation. The goal is to design realistic simulations that help policymakers, urban planners, and researchers optimize traffic flow, enhance safety, and promote sustainable transportation in rapidly urbanizing African cities. This research is particularly relevant for addressing unique challenges such as informal transport networks, high population density, and varying road infrastructure quality.

Project objectives

The objectives of this project include:

• Comprehensive multimodal analysis: Develop and calibrate digital twin models that integrate data on all forms of transportation, including pedestrian movement, moto-taxis, bicycles, buses, cars, and informal networks.
• Economic and environmental impact assessment: Incorporate economic analysis to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of urban interventions, while also studying their impact on fuel consumption, pollution levels, and economic productivity.
• Traffic flow optimization: Design and test interventions such as sharing of real-time traffic information, dedicated bike lanes, and moto-taxi regulations to improve mobility and reduce congestion.
• Safety enhancements: Simulate accident scenarios to identify high-risk areas and develop strategies for improved road safety.
• Sustainability focus: Explore the integration of electric vehicles, shared mobility solutions, and other sustainable transportation options to reduce the carbon footprint of urban transportation systems.
• Context-specific solutions: Tailor methodologies to address the unique characteristics of African cities, such as high population density, informal transportation systems, and diverse road infrastructure.