Jul 27, 2026
So-called digital twins are becoming one of the key tools for transforming cities, industry and infrastructure. Virtual models are already being used to improve the efficiency of regional management and development. What opportunities do these technologies offer Kazakhstan? Our Kazinform correspondent in Beijing reports.
What is a digital twin?
A digital twin is much more than a standard three-dimensional model on a computer screen. It is a dynamic virtual copy of a real-world object that displays its status and processes in real time. This could be an individual building, a factory, a transport network, utility networks, a residential neighbourhood or even an entire metropolis. To ensure this virtual copy remains up to date, it continuously receives data from thousands of sensors and information systems.
Pipe pressure sensors, smart traffic lights, AI-powered cameras and public transport navigation systems continuously transmit data to a single data centre. Thanks to this, the digital system knows in real time exactly where traffic jams are forming, where water pressure is dropping, and what the level of air pollution is on a specific street.
It is precisely this ability to continuously analyse the situation and predict future developments that makes digital twins an effective tool for managing urban infrastructure.
Digital twins are reaching a new level
One area of development for digital twins is spatial intelligence – a technology that enables artificial intelligence to understand the three-dimensional structure of the environment and model real-world objects with high accuracy.
At the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) 2026, Chinese developers presented a large-scale spatial intelligence model called ‘Zhengrong’, capable of generating detailed three-dimensional scenes of urban areas in a matter of seconds. The system automatically maps out roads, buildings and other features, creating a computational foundation for managing urban infrastructure.
The Kazakhstani perspective: Alatau City and the Digital Kazakhstan strategy
Kazakhstan is also entering a phase of large-scale digital transformation, in which digital twin technologies could become a key tool for managing urban infrastructure, transport and utility networks. In this context, the practical experience of countries that have already implemented similar solutions – first and foremost China – is of particular value.
The declaration of 2026 as the Year of Artificial Intelligence and Digitalisation, as well as the implementation of the Digital Kazakhstan strategy, have given further impetus to this direction. The country is establishing the AI Research University and the Alem.AI centre, constructing the Data Centre Valley, and building the technological infrastructure required for the implementation of intelligent management systems.
The new city of Alatau is set to become one of the first large-scale platforms for the application of digital twins. The experience of the Chinese district of Xiong’an is of particular interest for this project.
Earlier, at a parliamentary session, Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev noted that Alatau will become a modern platform for the implementation of management and technological solutions, and that successful practices can subsequently be scaled up across the whole country.
“Starting with the design phase, everything must be in digital format. All information systems must also be online. All solutions will be implemented on the basis of the city’s digital twin. We will therefore take international experience into account as much as possible,” he emphasised.
Read more: https://www.inform.kz/ru/alatau-city-i-tsifrovie-dvoyniki-zachem-kazahstanu-opit-kitaya-9f6a286f