Leeds start-up Slingshot Simulations is to lead a government-backed project which will make Yorkshire and the Humber a global pioneer in the field of smart cities.
The project, which is one of the largest of its type in the world, will use Slingshot’s ‘digital twin’ technology to improve the transport network in Leeds, York and Hull.
Slingshot’s platform will auto-generate 3D models of the three cities and surrounding areas, allowing planners to test different ways to boost the capacity of the existing network, reduce congestion and air pollution. It will also investigate ways to improve logistics and deal with potential delays at the port of Hull – a particular concern in the wake of Brexit.
The Yorkshire Geospatial Twin partnership, as it is known, brings together Slingshot with the three city councils along with Arup and BT Group, and will by funded by Innovate UK and the Geospatial Commission. The project starts with immediate effect and lasts for 12 weeks. If successful, the technology could be adopted worldwide.
Slingshot Simulations was founded in 2019 as a spin-out from the University of Leeds, and has been funded to date by the university and NPIF – Mercia Equity Finance, which is managed by Mercia and is part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund.
It aims to make ‘digital twin’ technology accessible to businesses of all sizes, enabling them to use advanced computer simulations to test new ideas and make better decisions.
Dr David McKee, CEO at Slingshot Simulations, said: “This project is the natural next step in Slingshot’s journey towards making digital twins accessible to anyone anywhere.”
Stephen Blackburn, Data and Innovation Manager at Leeds City Council, added: “Digital twins are an important part of Leeds’s open data strategy. Linking and visualising multiple data sources from across the city can provide invaluable insight and lead to improved outcomes for our citizens.”
