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Introducing a Regional Information Model (RIM), a digital twin ecosystem tailored to the needs of Lusikisiki and Mthatha. Anchored in GIS and local data, RIM evolves from a static spatial baseline to a real-time decision-making platform powered by simulations and IoT. The platform is co-designed with local officials, residents, and traditional leaders to diagnose infrastructure gaps, simulate solutions, manage project rollouts, and optimize service operations for water, electricity, and sanitation. It combines various available technologies and tools to deliver a people-centric architecture and user-interface, ensuring accessibility for all stakeholders, from treasury officials to ward councillors to residents with basic smartphones, enabling a coordinated shift from legacy practices to proactive, data-informed development and delivery. The outcome is a transformed region that bridges the rural-urban divide, and elevates its residents out of poverty.
Pilisiwe Masiba; Umair Surani