Naver kickstarts digital twin project for Saudi smart cities

Naver has embarked on a groundbreaking five-year initiative with the Saudi Arabian government to develop digital twin platforms for Riyadh and four other major cities. This ambitious project, a cornerstone of Saudi Arabia’s smart city strategy, aims to transform urban planning, infrastructure management and disaster preparedness. Naver is a leading South Korean internet and technology company.

The initiative follows a USD100 million deal secured by Naver in October 2023. Leveraging its advanced cloud technology and AI-driven solutions, Naver will create highly accurate 3D models of Riyadh, Medina, Jeddah, Dammam and Mecca, with precision down to 10cm. These digital twins will serve as virtual replicas of the cities, enabling real-time data analysis and sophisticated simulations for enhanced urban management.

Smart city infrastructure planning

Naver is partnering with Korea Water Resources and Korea Land and Geospatial Informatix to integrate critical services such as smart city infrastructure planning and flood simulation into the digital platforms. This collaboration will showcase the practical applications of digital twin technology, including urban water management, autonomous mobility and detailed traffic information.

The digital twin project is viewed as a key component of Saudi Arabia’s smart city aspirations, providing a platform that incorporates advanced technologies like AI, robotics, and cloud computing. The initiative is expected to deliver significant benefits in urban planning.

As the project advances, Naver plans to expand its partnerships and explore additional opportunities to apply digital twin technology across various sectors. This initiative not only supports Saudi Arabia’s vision of becoming a leader in smart city innovation but also positions Naver as a major player in the global digital twin industry, setting new benchmarks for urban development and technological integration.