MARKETS
Property Realising the ambitions of a digital twins for buildings will come from embracing a framework of continuous improvement and adopting an iterative approach to identifying and exploring use cases.
MICHAEL STYCH Director Arup London
The construction industry is evolving rapidly, with unprecedented investment in technology set to transform the way buildings are constructed, used and maintained. The digital twin concept is one prominent vehicle for the industry to realise this transformation. The argument for having a digital twin of a built asset is compelling — a virtual copy with which to hone design and construction performance, optimise the use of materials, improve user experience, and predict component maintenance and replacement. However, buildings are a mosaic of many parts sourced in a fragmented way, and so unlike the twin of a single component (a pump, a window), the proposal can quickly become overwhelming unless one concentrates on the value of specific outcomes. In other words, while it is technically possible to construct a twin of any building, it is easy to call into
question the effort and expense of doing so without a clear value proposition. It is likely, then, that success will only come from conceptualising digital twins as a framework of continuous improvement and exploration. There are two key principles to this idea. First, twin development must be seen as a foundational aspect of the development of everyday processes and systems. Second, we must adopt an iterative and experimental approach to identifying and exploring use cases. A digital twin for a building should ideally be a by-product of the existing processes of design, procurement, construction and operations. Using well-structured design models taken through to completion while taking a consistent approach to data will provide a solid foundation for any digital twin. To do this, it is important to conceive of data â–ş 85
