Digital twin

A digital twin is the digital counterpart of a physical asset, such as a building, a factory or a district, fed with real data. What sets it apart from an ordinary 3D model is that it is not static: it is updated continuously with information from sensors, meters and maintenance records. A facility manager can see the current state of the building on screen and spot likely problems before they happen.

How a digital twin is built

The starting point is usually a BIM model, or an accurate as-built model captured through laser scanning and photogrammetry. Live information is then connected to it: energy use, temperature, humidity, occupancy, lifts and mechanical systems. As data builds up over time, patterns emerge, for example which spaces use too much energy or which equipment is nearing a service. Some systems also let you test different scenarios digitally and see the effect before changing anything in the real building.

Its link to visualization

A digital twin is a data and operations tool rather than a visualization product, but the data only becomes useful when people can read it, and that calls for a clear 3D visual language. Real-time render engines are often used to present complex data as color-coded heat maps and interactive models. For more on digital change in construction, read about AI and the construction industry.