Virtual region, real impact: Digital twin accelerates housing
A digital copy of the region helps Brainport municipalities make faster and better decisions about housing, infrastructure, and liveability.
Published on April 18, 2025
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To accommodate its growing population, the Southeast Brabant region must build 62,000 new homes by 2040. That’s a formidable challenge, especially when you add mobility, infrastructure, and sustainability into the equation. That’s why, during the April 17 event, the region not only introduced the new Housing Realisation Team (Realisatieteam Wonen) but also unveiled a powerful new digital tool: the Digital Twin.
This advanced digital replica of the Brainport region enables policymakers, civil servants, and other stakeholders to explore various housing scenarios and assess their impact on traffic, air quality, noise, and other environmental factors. “A future-proof living environment is the goal we pursue with this Digital Twin,” says Peter Rasker, Director of Market, Mobility & Built Environment at TNO. “It’s about enabling zero-emission development and new mobility concepts that support high-tech growth without sacrificing quality of life.”
Scenexus, spinoff from TNO
Scenexus, a spin-off of TNO, accelerates solving societal challenges by empowering decision makers with its state-of-the-art urban strategy platform. "We envision that before this decade is out, Urban Strategy is the new worldwide standard for interactive spatial planning. To reach this goal, we have a roadmap with new developments, functionalities, and collaborations to be incorporated into Urban Strategy."
More on Scenexus here
One shared view of a complex reality
The Digital Twin is much more than a digital map. It brings together data from multiple sources into one clear and interactive platform. Housing, infrastructure, demographics, public transportation, noise levels, emissions—it’s all layered and visually accessible. Developed by TNO and partners, the tool is now available at the offices of the Eindhoven Metropolitan Region (MRE).
Instead of relying on dense reports or slow modeling processes, stakeholders can now work from a shared, visual representation of the region. That creates a common language between municipalities, knowledge institutions, and companies. “This Housing Realisation Team helps us connect even better,” said Suzan van de Goor, Waalre alderwoman and chair of the regional spatial planning council. “We all put our shoulders to the wheel, each bringing our expertise.”
What happens when you add 7,000 homes?
One of the simulations shows what happens if some 7,000 new homes are built in Deurne. The result? A clear increase in traffic not only within the town, but also across surrounding municipalities and even on the Eindhoven ring roads. That insight helps local governments plan smarter by improving public transportation, introducing new traffic measures, or adjusting parking policies.
A second scenario simulates urban infill near Eindhoven Central Station. Without additional public transport infrastructure, car traffic soars while train use remains flat. The conclusion: smart urban development only works if it’s matched with smart mobility planning. The Digital Twin makes that painfully clear—and guides what to do next.
Launch of the digital twin for Metropolitan Region Eindhoven © IO+
From insight to action
The strength of the Digital Twin lies in its ability to turn data into actionable insights. Users can compare multiple scenarios side by side—whether it’s reducing speed limits, building new roads, or introducing bicycle highways. It helps policymakers test assumptions, avoid blind spots, and ultimately, make better decisions.
“The model is designed to experiment with mitigating measures,” said one of the presenters. From emission zones to lower parking ratios to redesigned public transit networks—every measure can be tested, visualized, and discussed in real time.
What makes this tool unique is not just its versatility, but its speed and cost-efficiency. Instead of relying on expensive servers, it uses the same graphics processing units (GPUs) found in gaming computers. That means calculations are performed at lightning speed, and changes can be made live during meetings, greatly reducing both costs and complexity.
Connecting insight with implementation
The launch of the Digital Twin goes hand in hand with the establishment of the MRE Housing Realisation Team—a new regional task force supporting municipalities with expertise, capacity, and hands-on project coordination. Their mission: remove roadblocks, speed up housing projects, and create value by working together.
“Our work is a success if, in the end, people can say that we helped clear the way and created real added value,” says Hans Timmermans, recently appointed quartermaster for the team.
The Digital Twin and the Realisation Team reinforce each other. While the tool offers data-driven insights and scenario analysis, the team translates that into concrete action on the ground. “The Housing Realisation Team, backed by the Brainport Partner Fund, is vital to help municipalities get their projects off the ground,” says Paul van Nunen, director of Brainport Development. “But innovation is just as essential—and the Digital Twin shows exactly how that helps.”