What a digital twin really is in construction and real estate

So what is a digital twin in construction and real estate, and what is the point of one? Here is a quick overview of what a property owner needs to know.

A digital twin is, put simply, a digital reconstruction of something that exists in the real world, whether that is an object, a place, a system or a person. In our case the physical object is a building, and you recreate it as a virtual 3D version using BIM (building information modelling). On its own, though, that is not enough to call something a digital twin, even if that is a common assumption.

The difference between a geometric and a digital twin

What we have described so far is not a digital twin but a geometric twin. The thing that makes a digital twin powerful is the ability to exchange data between the two objects, the real building and the 3D model. Without that link, and without data moving between them, there is no digital twin.

Digital models of physical things are nothing new. What is new is that a digital twin uses data from the physical world for analysis and machine learning, so the twin keeps learning from the real asset, ideally in real time. This is the definition supported by the UK BIM Alliance and buildingSMART International.

A geometric twin looks like the building, but a digital twin takes more. The interesting part starts when sensors connect you to the building's live data on heating, cooling, light, water or air. You pull that information into the digital twin, analyse it and use the results to make informed decisions, on energy use for example.

A digital twin works on both input and output. As it develops, a property's energy use can become steadily more autonomous and self-governing. A simple example. The twin knows meeting room 1 is booked from nine to twelve, so it heats the room to twenty degrees only while it is in use and keeps the air clean. It is tied to a calendar, and its sensors also register when the building is actually occupied, so you can match energy use to how the building is really used.

Why so few use digital twins

Now that you know what a digital twin is, you might wonder why the construction and real estate industry is not already using them everywhere. As we said, not everyone takes in what a digital twin really is, even when they are happy to use the word. It has become a buzzword across many industries, and few know how to turn the concept into value. That is exactly where property owners who use new technology, rather than only talk about it, can build a lead over the competition.

The potential for efficiency, profitability and above all sustainable choices across a property portfolio is enormous. The industry as a whole has not yet grasped the power of digital twins, and regulators are not keeping pace with digitalisation. In the Nordics the authorities largely leave this to the industry and set few requirements. Some public bodies, such as Norway's Statsbygg, have taken steps, but most of the sector is still in a digital hibernation.

What a digital twin gives you and your properties

A digital twin gives you more control over your real estate.

You get to know your building far better and faster, because the information lives in one place. You see how the building is used, where the energy goes and on what. You get an overview of the whole portfolio and a clear picture of where something needs upgrading or optimising.

It also simplifies operations, because everything talks to each other. There are countless operating systems in use today, all doing different things, and a large owner can be running dozens that do not communicate. The biggest benefit of a digital twin is exactly that interaction. You decide who gets access to what, and you can fold in the systems you already use.

Picture this. A tenant in the building spots a broken window and, with permission to report faults, flags it. The facilities team is notified, opens the digital twin and finds out exactly what kind of window it is, with all the documentation and data needed to order a replacement. The details of the new window then load back into the twin automatically. As the owner you can keep full control across every property if you want to, and when reuse matters you can find the documentation that tells you whether the materials are good enough to use again.

All of this becomes possible through the digital twin. You learn how your buildings are used and keep a complete overview of the documentation and data. You can also set requirements for the information sent to you, and the system tells you when a request has been met. Instead of thousands of PDFs you have no time to check, you have everything in one place, a digital logbook for your buildings.

Getting started with a digital twin is easier than it looks, so there is no reason to sit on the fence and wait.

Want to see what a digital twin could mean for your portfolio? Talk to us, or book a demo.