IMAGEM is proud IMAGEM Dutch Metropolitan Innovations (DMI), a partnership of government agencies, businesses, and research institutions dedicated to creating sustainable, livable cities. The growing complexity of issues surrounding housing, mobility, the energy transition, and climate change calls for smart technology, data-driven insights, and close collaboration.
Using our Planspace and digital twin, we integrate fragmented data, simulate scenarios, and accelerate decision-making. We bring this expertise to the DMI ecosystem to help municipalities make faster and better-informed choices for the cities of tomorrow.
What does our contribution mean for your community?
According to Niels van de Graaf, Government Market Manager at IMAGEM, the decision to join the DMI ecosystem is a logical step. “The transition to sustainable, livable cities requires speed, and that can only be achieved through collaboration,” he explains. “Within DMI, we share our knowledge, experience, and innovations so that municipalities don’t have to duplicate efforts and can achieve results more quickly.”
We don’t just provide technology—such as digital twins other smart tools that consolidate fragmented data, simulate scenarios, and simplify complex decisions—but also the expertise to apply these effectively within municipal processes. By collaborating with DMI’s network of experts, we strengthen this approach and make technology scalable and practical to implement.
“Furthermore, the open standards within DMI align perfectly with our own working methods, which simplifies integration and helps municipalities make the transition to data-driven decision-making more quickly.”
Six years ago, IMAGEM optimized IMAGEM approach by identifying the bottlenecks in decision-making processes related to spatial development and urban policy. Municipalities were struggling with fragmented information (silos), a lack of comprehensive insight, and limited capabilities for simulating scenarios. This led to sluggish processes, higher costs associated with failure, and suboptimal decisions.
Using our innovative Planspace, supported by modern digital twin, we broke through this impasse. In collaboration with various municipalities, we developed an approach that integrates data, processes, and knowledge. This not only speeds up decision-making, but also reduces risks and strengthens collaboration among stakeholders.
Digital twins a catalyst for innovation
Practical applications: from insight to action
Our digital twin is now in the third phase of the VNG maturity model. This means that we not only provide insight into the current situation, but can also simulate data-driven future scenarios.
A concrete example is our collaboration with Nelen & Schuurmans and the City of Almere. Together, we developed a digital twin predicts how water behaves during extreme rainfall. Buildings at risk, streets that will flood, and even how high the water will rise against building facades—everything is made visually clear. By combining hydrodynamic modeling with advanced digital twin, the City of Almere can proactively take measures to minimize flooding while also communicating more transparently with policymakers, emergency services, and residents.
In addition, we assist municipalities with mobility issues and underground infrastructure. For example, we developed a digital twin of the subsurface, which enables cities to make smarter decisions regarding urban expansion and infrastructure management.
Looking Ahead: Innovation and Integration
We remain committed to investing in innovation and collaboration. By joining the DMI ecosystem, we are taking the next step toward helping municipalities, provinces, and the national government reduce the complexity of decision-making. At IMAGEM , we IMAGEM not IMAGEM digital twin as a standalone solution, but as part of a broader transformation. Technology alone is not enough; we have found that it requires a comprehensive approach and can also provide strategic guidance to municipalities.
We look forward to working with our partners to create innovative solutions that not only address today’s urban challenges but also help municipalities prepare for the future.
More information
Niels is the Government Market Manager at IMAGEM. He helps government agencies continuously work smarter and more effectively, and fulfills his role by supporting organizations in solving their challenges. Want to learn more? Send Niels an email or send a message via our contact form.
Niels van de Graaf
Government Market Manager
About the DMI Ecosystem
The DMI ecosystem is an initiative of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management and the Ministry of the Interior, bringing together governments, businesses, research institutions, and citizens to create smart, sustainable cities. By intelligently connecting data and making it widely accessible, the platform helps address challenges such as urbanization, mobility, and climate change in a comprehensive manner. The focus is on knowledge sharing, innovation, and scalable solutions, so that municipalities can implement better policies and improve quality of life.
