Project HiTWINO

Abstract

Urban transportation systems are becoming increasingly congested and complex, driving the need for smarter, more efficient, and safer mobility solutions. Digital twin technology offers a breakthrough approach by creating virtual replicas of physical traffic environments, such as intersections and road networks, that can provide real-time monitoring, predictive analytics, and proactive traffic management. HiTWINO (Hyper-Connected Digital Twin Intelligence for Smart Mobility) is an industrial R&D initiative that aims to redefine urban mobility through the deployment of intelligent, real-time, and hyper-connected digital twins. These digital twins—deployed at the edge of smart junctions—act as live virtual replicas of urban traffic environments. By combining real-time sensing, V2X communication, AI-driven analytics, and 6G connectivity, HiTWINO enables predictive, decentralized traffic management across entire cities. The project introduces a five-layer architecture that integrates edge-level perception and connectivity, open data exchange, digital twin modeling, and AI-powered decision-making with real-world service applications. A key innovation lies in enabling digital twins to interact with one another, creating a distributed intelligence network where traffic signals, vehicles, and infrastructure cooperate in real time. Edge AI and federated learning models support on-site decision-making while ensuring data privacy and adaptability to local conditions. HiTWINO moves beyond traditional ITS approaches by transforming isolated traffic elements into a coordinated, learning mobility system. The result is a scalable, city-wide platform that reduces congestion, provides dynamic routing, enhances safety, lowers emissions, improves travel efficiency, and enables fully digital twin-based driving and navigation assistance for autonomous vehicles. With real-world pilots and diverse partners across Europe and Asia, HiTWINO positions itself as a breakthrough in smart, sustainable mobility innovation.