Digital Twins Research at TMU
Digital Twins Research at TMU
Leading interdisciplinary digital twin research, building virtual models of real-world systems.
Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) is a leader in interdisciplinary digital twin research, building virtual models of real-world systems. Digital twins improve decision-making, streamline operations and generate new insights across sectors, providing the tools we need to plan better and act faster.
By connecting researchers, industry, government and communities, data is transformed into action, helping Canada build cities and communities that work better for people and the planet. Together with our collaborators, TMU is developing the insight, tools and talent Canada needs to shape the resilient, connected cities and communities of tomorrow.
Collaborate with TMU
Work with us to research, design and deploy digital twin technologies to address the challenges of climate adaptation, housing, infrastructure renewal, sustainability and cyber-physical systems.
The world is at a crossroads, and Canada is experiencing one of its largest infrastructure renewal periods. Using integrated, data-driven tools like digital twins (virtual, data-rich models of physical assets) helps us to:
- Create optimal plans and designs before construction.
- Reduce lifecycle costs through predictive maintenance.
- Improve resilience to climate, cyber and demographic challenges.
- Enhance accessibility, safety and environmental performance.
Infrastructure and the Built Environment
Optimizing building performance and the operations of infrastructure.
Mobility and Transportation
Supporting more efficient, responsive and integrated mobility systems.
Energy and Integrated Systems
Enabling improved energy performance and decarbonization outcomes.
Data, AI and Cyber-physical Integration
Ensuring that systems are scalable, reliable and secure.
We are deploying digital twins to help our cities and communities thrive in a rapidly changing world.
- Identify and Model Change – Deploy digital twins to better understand emerging trends in our areas of interdisciplinary strength to guide smarter urban, regional and community planning.
- Pilot and Test Solutions – Develop, test and validate new tools and technologies on TMU’s smart campus and partner sites to demonstrate real-world impact before scaling.
- Inform Policy and Practice – Create evidence-based policy roadmaps and governance frameworks to help decision-makers adopt secure, ethical and data-driven approaches.
- Design Systems and Solutions – Co-design digital-twin-enabled systems, services and interventions that respond to complex urban and infrastructure challenges.
- Connect and Collaborate – Build shared standards, best practices and a national community of digital twin innovators and users.
- Train and Build Talent – Equip students and professionals with the knowledge and skills to lead Canada’s digitally enabled transformation.
TMU has made deep investments in infrastructure to support digital twins research, which are accessible to our partners through collaborative projects.
TMU is home to a wide array of experts – including urban planners, engineers, data scientists, economists, health care leaders and social scientists – working with digital twins across disciplines to tackle complex challenges.
Kris Alexander (Director of the Red Bull Gaming Hub) designs video-game-inspired user interfaces that enable facilities management personnel to navigate digital twins.
Reza Arani (Canada Research Chair, Smart Grid Cyber-Physical Security) addresses digital and physical vulnerabilities in smart power grid systems to support secure resilient energy infrastructure.
Ehsan Rezazadeh Azar tests and develops new machine learning systems to make the construction industry more productive, sustainable and safe.
Hitesh Doshi (Member of Urban Water TMU) develops environmentally friendly roof technologies, creating and promoting the adoption of green roofs and "blue roofs" that manage and harvest storm water.
Elsayed Elbeshbishy models greenhouse gas emissions produced by water resource recovery facilities to improve operational efficiency and select optimal water treatment processes.
Bilal Farooq (Canada Research Chair, Disruptive Transportation Technologies and Services and Director of Laboratory of Innovations in Transportation (external link) ) deploys digital twins for "what-if?" analysis of urban infrastructure to improve accessibility and integration for migrant communities.
Murtaza Haider (Director of the Urban Analytics Institute) simulates alternative digital street configurations of traffic zones to inform decisions around infrastructure development and land use.
Farrokh Janabi-Sharifi (Director of the Robotics, Mechatronics, and Automation Laboratory) develops vision-based control and navigation systems for robots and is transforming the way robotics are used in applications from farming to surgery.
Songnian Li (Director of the GeoCollaboration and GIS Lab) processes and analyzes geospatial big data and social media data, with a particular focus on event detection, human mobility patterns and traffic flow in urban environments.
Steven N. Liss (Vice-President, Research and Innovation and Member of Urban Water TMU) integrates data and modelling into the monitoring and optimization of wastewater and environmental systems.
Tor Oiamo studies the built environment and its effects, including environmental noise and air pollution, on human health and wellbeing.
Ali Mazalek (Canada Research Chair, Digital Media and Innovation and Director of the Synaesthetic Media Lab (external link) ) develops tangible human-computer interaction and digital tabletop systems.
Jenn McArthur (Lead of the Smart Campus Integration and Testing Hub) applies digital twin technologies to optimize the performance of building HVAC systems to improve efficiency and reduce energy consumption.
Hossein Rahnama develops perspective-aware computing, enabling individuals to employ digital twins of themselves as collaborative partners or as representatives in virtual environments.
Pamela Robinson examines spatial data sovereignty and how technologies such as digital twins shape the governance of data collection and use.
Ahmed Shaker (Director of the Remote Sensing Lab) uses remote sensing technologies to transform satellite images into highly detailed maps of the earth’s surface.
Sharareh Taghipour (Canada Research Chair, Physical Asset Management and Director of the Reliability, Risk and Maintenance Research Laboratory) develops mathematical models to optimize physical assets and support sustainable operations in carbon-intensive industries.
Bala Venkatesh (Director of the NSERC Energy Storage Technology Network) develops electric power transmission and energy distribution systems that provide greener, more reliable energy.
To collaborate with TMU, contact us at innovate@torontomu.ca