The concept of “Smart Cities” is here! 🚨 Immersive digital twins to replicate and augment reality with real-time data is not the future — it's happening right now at the Port of Corpus Christi! 😱

In this episode, I’m joined by Darrell Keach, Business Systems Manager for the Port of Corpus Christi, and Rex Hansen, Principal Project Manager at Esri, to show a live demo of their cutting-edge digital twin project…. 👇

A massive 3D replica of the port that pulls in REAL-TIME data to track ship movement, enhance safety, boost operational efficiency…and even preview future activity in the port!

Yeah…you read that right. This isn’t theory. They built it. And it’s working.

It started with ports, but the tech they built for this can be replicated for other uses, from individual transportation hubs like railway stations and airports…all the way to entire counties! 😲

This is one of those rare episodes that gets you thinking: “Dang, is this where we’re headed?” And the answer is…yes. 👍

Check this out and see how your role as a civil engineer might change in the (very) near future.

🧠 TUNE IN TO LEARN:

Why the Port of Corpus Christi invested in a digital twin
How digital twins fit into the "Smart City" concept
The rise of game engines in the civil engineering industry
How they pulled in real-world data into a living 3D model
A sneak peek at their live demo (yes, they show what it actually looks like!)
How they got around the problems of dealing with a big data set
Using the model to prevent incidents before they even happen
Where digital twins are heading next in civil, transportation, and beyond
What this means for you as a civil engineer (and how to future-proof your skillset)

🔗 RESOURCES MENTIONED:

Digital Twin Technology

What is GIS (Geographic Information Systems)?

Keynote About the Project

Esri

Port of Corpus Christi

Unity

Unreal Engine

The Acceleration Agency (TAA)

TAA's OPTICS Project

📧 CONNECT WITH REX:

rhansen@esri.com