Digital twin implementation in permitting

(a) Guidelines for adoption of digital twin technology (1) In general Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in coordination with the Council on Environmental Quality and relevant Federal agencies, shall establish guidelines for integrating digital twin technology into the permitting process for covered infrastructure projects. (2) Requirements (A) In general The guidelines established under paragraph (1) shall include— (i) standards for creating and maintaining digital twins to model project impacts, including environmental, economic, and operational factors; (ii) requirements for interoperability with existing Federal permitting systems; and (iii) protocols for real-time data integration from environmental sensors, geographic information systems, and stakeholder inputs. (B) Open application programming interfaces The standards described in subparagraph (A)(i) shall include recommendations that digital twins be developed with open application programming interfaces. (b) Pilot program (1) In general Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a pilot program to test digital twin applications in not less than 10 covered infrastructure projects across diverse sectors. (2) Requirements The pilot program established under paragraph (1) shall evaluate— (A) the extent of any— (i) reductions in permitting timelines; (ii) improvements in environmental impact assessments; (iii) cost savings; and (iv) stakeholder collaboration outcomes; and (B) the importance of early public stakeholder engagement. (3) Report Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on the findings of the pilot program.