AI-Driven Metaverse Digital Twin Cities: Prototype Platform Design for Integrated Virtual Urban Ecosystems and Services

This study presents a cutting-edge platform, meticulously crafted by a multidisciplinary team, designed to actualize Metaverse Digital Twin Cities (Meta-city) and their associated Scene Services. The Meta-city integrates real-world urban services with a virtual CIM platform, offering a novel hybrid experience that merges virtual and real-world services. The platform's architecture is structured into five layers: Perception, Data, Platform, AI Engine, and Metaverse, culminating in an extensive 3D model database that augments the capabilities of traditional smart city frameworks. It targets users with significant urban modeling needs, such as city administrators and residents, providing a multi-dimensional 3D city operation and maintenance model suitable for both administrative and commercial use. This model is complemented by services like real-time rendering monitoring and urban disaster prevention etc., tailored to meet the unique demands of urban stakeholders. The platform's integrated approach is poised to streamline urban governance by leveraging digital twins, thereby revolutionizing the urban experience. The fusion of diverse expertise within the platform ensures a holistic strategy for advancing urban digital ecosystems, potentially redefining smart city technologies. Currently operational in several pilot Chinese cities, this initiative exemplifies the application of theoretical research to engineering practice to enhance urban operations and governance efficiency.