Revolutionizing Urban Development: Université de Moncton and Dassault Systèmes Partner to Address Housing, Densification, and Conservation Challenges in New Brunswick
At VivaTech 2025 in Paris, a groundbreaking collaboration was announced between Université de Moncton, Canada’s largest French-language university outside Québec, and Dassault Systèmes, a global leader in virtual twin technology. This innovative partnership aims to tackle pressing urban development challenges in southeastern New Brunswick, focusing on housing shortages, urban densification, and ecological conservation. By leveraging advanced digital tools, the project seeks to create sustainable solutions for the rapidly growing cities of Dieppe and Moncton while safeguarding the region’s natural ecosystems.
A Six-Month Project with Ambitious Goals
The six-month initiative will develop collaborative virtual environments to model, analyze, and plan sustainable urban growth in Dieppe and Moncton—two of Canada’s fastest-growing metropolitan areas over the past two decades. A key component of the project is the creation of a protected wildlife corridor in southeastern New Brunswick, ensuring that urban expansion does not come at the expense of biodiversity.
Central to this effort is Dassault Systèmes’ 3DEXPERIENCE platform, which will be used to create, maintain, and analyze a virtual twin of a 386-square-mile (1,000 km²) zone in New Brunswick. This virtual twin will be enriched with detailed territorial data provided by local partners, including information on buildings, zoning, mobility patterns, and biodiversity. The result is a dynamic, data-driven digital representation of the region that stakeholders can use to simulate scenarios, evaluate options, and make informed decisions.
Collaboration Across Multiple Stakeholders
This project brings together a diverse coalition of Canadian partners, each contributing unique expertise and resources:
- Université de Moncton: Leading the academic and research aspects of the initiative.
- Cities of Dieppe and Moncton: Providing insights into urban planning needs and challenges.
- Southeast Regional Service Commission: Supporting regional governance and coordination.
- Collège Communautaire du Nouveau-Brunswick: Offering community-focused perspectives and training opportunities.
- Local Businesses: Black Arcs and Remsoft contribute specialized knowledge in urban design and resource management.
By uniting these stakeholders, the project ensures that solutions are not only technologically advanced but also deeply rooted in the region’s specific needs and priorities.
Virtual Twin Technology: A Game-Changer for Urban Planning
The virtual twin serves as a powerful tool for addressing complex real-world challenges. Stakeholders can use it to:
- Simulate What-If Scenarios: Test different urban planning strategies to identify the most effective approaches.
- Evaluate Urban Densification Impacts: Assess how increased population density affects infrastructure, services, and quality of life.
- Preserve Ecological Corridors: Ensure that critical habitats and biodiversity hotspots are protected amid urban growth.
For Josephine Ong, Vice President of Cities and Public Services Industry at Dassault Systèmes, the project represents a significant leap forward: “Our partnership will enable the Université de Moncton to benefit from a large-scale territory virtual twin delivered quickly through a managed solution that reduces costs and risks. Local stakeholders will be able to simulate what-if scenarios, evaluate options, and take informed decisions—all on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform—to solve complex real-life challenges and optimize quality of life in the region.”
Positioning New Brunswick as a Hub for Innovation
Francis LeBlanc, Associate Vice-Rector for Research and Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research at Université de Moncton, emphasized the transformative potential of the partnership: “This collaboration positions the Université de Moncton at the forefront of digital innovation applied to urban and environmental issues. We are proud to put our expertise at the service of a project with strong regional and international impact.”
The project was made possible thanks to the support of Opportunities New Brunswick (ONB), which played a pivotal role in fostering connections between Dassault Systèmes and local partners. Luke Randall, Minister responsible for ONB, highlighted the broader significance of the initiative: “New Brunswick is truly a hub of innovation and collaboration. This partnership demonstrates the strength of the connections between research, industry, and regional development. Together, we are creating solutions that have a real local impact and significant global potential.”
A Model for Sustainable Urban Growth
This initiative marks an important milestone in urban development for New Brunswick. By combining Dassault Systèmes’ cutting-edge technology with local expertise, the project offers a blueprint for balancing urban growth with environmental preservation. The collaborative approach not only addresses immediate challenges but also lays the groundwork for long-term sustainability.
The success of this project could serve as a model for other regions in Canada and around the world facing similar issues. As cities continue to grow, tools like virtual twins provide a way to plan smarter, more resilient communities that prioritize both people and the planet.
About Dassault Systèmes
Dassault Systèmes is a catalyst for human progress. Since 1981, the company has pioneered virtual worlds to improve real life for consumers, patients and citizens. With Dassault Systèmes’ 3DEXPERIENCE platform, 370,000 customers of all sizes, in all industries, can collaborate, imagine and create sustainable innovations that drive meaningful impact. For more information, visit: www.3ds.com
About the Université de Moncton
Founded in 1963 in New Brunswick, the Université de Moncton is the largest French-language university in Canada outside Quebec, with three campuses in Edmundston, Moncton and Shippagan. Its mission is to transmit knowledge, advance research and contribute to the development of its community, by training committed, creative people who are open to the world. The Université de Moncton also plays an important role in the development of the Acadian and francophone community, regionally, nationally and internationally. For more information, visit: www.umoncton.ca.
About Opportunities New Brunswick
Opportunities New Brunswick is a Crown corporation and the lead economic development agency for the Government of New Brunswick, Canada. It seeks to attract and support opportunities to stimulate the economy and create jobs by providing support services for businesses. For more information, visit: www.onbcanada.ca
