Building a digital China is an important engine for advancing modernization in the digital era and a strong support for building a new competitive edge for the nation. The report of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China proposed to improve the level of urban planning, construction, and governance, "to create livable, resilient, and smart cities"; to accelerate the development of the digital economy, promote the deep integration of the digital economy and the real economy, and create internationally competitive digital industry clusters. As the capital and an international center for scientific and technological innovation, Beijing is rich in scientific and technological innovation resources and is an innovator and pioneer in China's digital development process.

To further promote the development of smart cities in Beijing and strive to build a global new type of smart city, showcasing the achievements of Beijing's smart city construction, in March 2023, the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Economy and Information Technology, in conjunction with the Beijing Software and Information Service Industry Association, jointly launched the "2023 Beijing Smart City Innovation Application Case Collection" case collection activity.

Beijing Brilliant Technology Co., Ltd. (referred to as "Boneng Shares") has been selected for the "2023 Beijing Smart City Innovation Application Case Collection" with its "Su-Xi-Chang Expressway Digital Cockpit" case.

The project is developed based on Brilliant' independently developed Digital Twin Operating System BLinkOS, which provides a complete industry digital twin application solution ranging from data and platforms to professional digital management systems, and is based on architectures of big data, cloud computing, and cloud storage. The product supports the rapid construction of digital applications for different business needs, empowering users' digital and intelligent transformation through multiple means such as a digital foundation, service platform, IoT platform, and enablement platform.

Su-Xi-Chang Expressway Digital Cockpit

On October 9, 2021, the longest underwater tunnel under construction in China—the 10.79 km long and 43.6 m wide Taihu Tunnel of the Su-Xi-Chang Southern Expressway, known as the longest and widest underwater tunnel in China—completed all the main structural construction, achieving full enclosure.

After the opening of the underwater tunnel, the operating units need to monitor and manage a large number of facilities and equipment, various key vehicles in the tunnel, and emergency incidents. Although radars, video cameras, and various sensing devices have been installed and are in use, they operate relatively independently. Relying solely on large-screen monitoring video methods makes it difficult for on-site command personnel to fully grasp various situations and make the best judgment and decision.

In this context, Boneng Shares has constructed a Smart Expressway Digital Twin Visualization Platform, which includes 31 kilometers of expressway, 11 kilometers of tunnel, 4 toll stations, one pair of service areas, and 3 interchanges. The application of the Smart Expressway Digital Twin Visualization Platform achieves multi-dimensional visual simulation and integrated operation control of the command cockpit for the expressway. By integrating big data and linking multiple elements, it creates the characteristics of interconnectivity for smart expressways and full-process visualization of operation control.

The Su-Xi-Chang Expressway Digital Cockpit achieves digital twin visualization monitoring and management for expressways and tunnels, providing road-tunnel integrated twin display, vehicle twinning, traffic flow analysis, environmental monitoring, event simulation, etc. It transforms from a single method of operation management that only relies on video monitoring to a comprehensive operation and supervision under the twin platform, which includes the operational status of various facilities and equipment, real-time traffic conditions, and prediction and simulation of various events. This significantly enhances the operation and management level of expressways, achieving knowability, manageability, and controllability.

Application Content

The smart expressway is based on the concept of "expressway + internet," integrating technologies such as 5G, IoT, big data and cloud computing, digital twin, GIS, GPS/Beidou navigation, etc. It consolidates the data resources of existing highway information systems, covering various business scenarios including highway road monitoring, tunnel monitoring, facility and equipment surveillance and management, real-time monitoring and diversion of road vehicles, traffic command and dispatching. With holographic 3D visualization and interaction methods, relying on multi-system linkage and coordination mechanisms, combined with geographic information, it achieves various functions such as data collection, integration, analysis, display, monitoring, and linkage. It comprehensively uses situational monitoring, information display, and other means to ensure the safety of expressway tunnels and the safe and orderly passage of vehicles, achieving efficient and convenient operation for management departments and enhancing the public's travel service experience. According to the principle of phased implementation, two stages of work have been defined:

Phase One:

The system provides general basic functions, mainly including twin scenario browsing, roaming, time, weather, orientation, measurement, and other features. In addition to meeting business needs, it also offers a richer set of functionalities.

Phase Construction Scope focuses on tunnel scenarios, including:

- Traffic-related statistical analysis indicators and dimensions, corresponding vehicle position twins, and focus on key vehicles;
- Environmental display indicators and dimensions;
- Event handling process management and event simulation, including collisions and corresponding changes in vehicle indicators, etc.

Phase Two:

- Emphasizes the improvement of lane-level detailed 3D models for a 31-kilometer expressway, 4 toll stations, and 1 service area;
- Event simulation model construction is currently limited to 10 types;
- After the model is complete, optimizes the scene display effects and related display effects, including expressways, toll stations, service areas, gantries, traffic lights, vehicle indicator signs, information boards, etc.;
- Optimizes simulation roaming. Su-Xi-Chang Southern Expressway full漫游, supports adjusting roaming speed, supports forward or backward movement, and quick jumps to 9 main locations;
- Completes the loading of massive model data, combining the current state of equipment to display the status of current key equipment with different effects.

This case mainly applies the following innovations:

- Adopts the design concept of "Highway/Tunnel + Digital Twin";
- Relies on the implementation means of "virtual modeling + reality mirroring";
- Provides functional driving force through "multi-source data + business applications";
- Expands value-added effects through "big data integration + multi-element linkage".

Value Effectiveness

Economic Value: The implementation of this case effectively reduces the operating costs of the expressway, enhances the government's management service capabilities, improves the work efficiency and market competitiveness of management and operation enterprises, promotes industry aggregation centered on the expressway, and thus achieves the development of urban and regional economies.

Business Transformation: The implementation of this case can provide technical support and experience accumulation for the construction of corresponding scenarios in smart cities, while also improving the operational efficiency, safety, and sustainability of cities, promoting urban development and progress.

Promotion Space: The construction of smart expressways will promote the development of related industries such as intelligent transportation equipment, big data applications, and artificial intelligence technology, forming a huge industry chain and market; promote economic development, improve logistics efficiency, reduce logistics costs, and enhance economic growth; drive innovation and development of related technologies and services, creating new jobs and business opportunities.