NAVER LABS Unveils Digital Twin Platform for Mecca, Medina, and Jeddah in Saudi Arabia
NAVER LABS Unveils Digital Twin Platform for Mecca, Medina, and Jeddah in Saudi Arabia
NAVER LABS has successfully brought Saudi Arabia’s most iconic cities into the digital world. As part of the digital transformation project signed with Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Municipal, Rural Affairs and Housing (MOMRAH) in 2023, NAVER LABS has completed the construction of digital twins for Mecca and Medina, Islam’s holiest cities, as well as the economic hub Jeddah. The company developed the KSA Digital Twin System, a platform that integrates data from real-world cities with highly detailed 3D models that precisely recreate every individual street and building. The platform is designed to support a wide range of applications, including urban administration, city planning, and disaster response.
This project not only marks a significant technological accomplishment for NAVER LABS but also represents a major advancement in the management and preservation of some of the world’s most historically and culturally significant cities through innovative digital solutions.
Mecca, Medina, and Jeddah: Digitalization of Iconic Cities
The scale of this digital twin project is truly overwhelming; one could even say another Mecca, Medina, and Jeddah have been born in the digital world. The total area of these three cities is approximately 6,800 km², more than 11 times the size of Seoul, and includes over 920,000 buildings.
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Digital Twins of Saudi Arabia's Mecca, Medina, and Jeddah by the Numbers
Creating such an extensive region in precise 3D was no easy feat, but NAVER LABS’ proprietary digital twin solution ALIKE has set a new milestone. Based on millions of aerial photos and AI-powered mapping technology, the entire city has been swiftly and accurately restored in 3D models.
A Digital Twin Platform for Urban Planning and Forecasting
The creation of a "living platform" that goes beyond simply being a 3D model of a city and supports real urban administration, city planning, and disaster response holds significant meaning. The Saudi Arabia Digital Twin Platform offers various features to manage cities more safely and efficiently.
The Various Use Cases of the Digital Twin Platform
During urban development planning, terrain analysis can be performed through calculations of earthworks and slope detection. It also supports simulations for visibility and sunlight exposure in specific areas. The platform even includes features to check for building code violations by linking architectural design data.
Saudi Arabia Digital Twin Platform Interface: Terrain Analysis (left), Visibility Analysis (right)
One particularly useful feature is the flood simulation tool, which provides practical assistance in disaster response. Based on historical flood data and urban drainage systems, the platform visualizes high-risk areas and allows for real-time monitoring of rainfall, river levels, and cloud movements. The digital twin platform is not just a spatial representation; it encapsulates the city’s past and present while offering a new infrastructure for designing the future.
Saudi Arabia Digital Twin Platform Interface: Flood Simulation
The Future of Smart Cities Blooms in a Vast Desert
Building on the success of these three cities, NAVER plans to expand the digital twin platform to other cities within Saudi Arabia. At the same time, the company will enhance the platform by accumulating local user experience and operational data while continuously identifying new solutions for urban challenges. Moving forward, NAVER is committed to strengthening the technological foundation that will accelerate the Smart transformation of cities around the world.
