Digital Twins and Simulation Poised to Support Atlanta’s World Cup Operations

To improve traffic and crowd movement before, during, and after Atlanta’s eight World Cup games, researchers in Georgia Tech's Aerospace Systems Design Laboratory (ASDL), supported by the Georgia Tech Police Department (GTPD), worked with the Georgia World Congress Center Authority (GWCCA) to aid pedestrian and traffic management, according to an announcement from Georgia Tech. 

Michael Balchanos, ASDL Senior Research Engineer, and a team of Ph.D. students followed the GWCCA Police Department to understand the traffic management challenges during major events at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. In doing so, they identified a key challenge: monitoring and understanding the constantly changing nature of safety planning and traffic operations during mega events. To address it, they developed data-calibrated simulations and digital twins to support the same operations during the World Cup.

“Our digital twins blend multiple streams of data to create models about how cars and people will move when they interact with each other. Once we determine their rules of behavior, our simulations evaluate different traffic interventions to avoid bottlenecks, traffic slowdowns, and unwanted crowdedness,” said project leader Balchanos. “Our custom-built interface allows us to build different scenarios and simulate different approaches, in real time, as conditions change." He expected decision makers would use the dashboard to advise when and what interventions should be used.

The project team includes aerospace Ph.D. students Hajar Mali, Nathnael Geneti, Balaji Ravikanti, and Mario Zarate. 

“By leveraging ASDL’s data-driven simulation and digital twin capabilities, this initiative brings the lab’s years of expertise in advanced modeling for aerospace systems to the problem of people and vehicle traffic in downtown Atlanta during the games," said ASDL Director and Regents’ Professor Dimitri Mavris.

ASDL got involved after GTPD Chief Robert Connolly and members of Georgia Tech’s Administration and Finance team began looking for ways to use research to support the GWCCA. 

Connolly, also VP for Public Safety, said, “While this current work supports GWCCA and the planning of FIFA, the benefits extend far beyond a single event. The insights will help Georgia Tech make more informed, data-driven decisions as our campus grows."

Mavris said. “It’s a win-win for campus and the city as we welcome soccer fans from around the world.”