151 This regular occurrence illustrates Tuvalu’s precarious situation—at the tipping point of rising seas. A global study that mapped land elevation in relation to coastal flooding estimates that more than 410 million people will have to leave their homes by 2100. For its future, Tuvalu signed a treaty with Australia that will allow 280 Tuvaluans to migrate each year on permanent resident visas. “It’s very sad to see that realization that everyone feels the need to have a foot somewhere else,” Pichel said. With the digital twin, future generations of the Tuvalu nation will be able to experience their homeland even if it sinks. While this move ensures perpetual homecoming, it can also work in the present. Digital twins are being used to address the unique social, economic, and environmental vulnerabilities A 3D map with building height, roof slope and aspect was used to assess the potential for new solar panels and to prioritize installation on the most suitable houses. The survey ground control point team from the Land & Survey Department ensure location accuracy. Here they are standing in the harbor where sandbags have been used to raise the land above rising seas. across an increasing number of Small Island Developing States. As virtual reality technologies improve, people may be able to experience Tuvalu as it was—to delight in its beaches and biodiversity-rich reefs. They may choose to visit the digital twin regularly, not just to reflect but to center themselves on their ancestral heritage. Mitigating Risk and Increasing Resilience
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