What is a digital twin in the construction and real estate industry?

If you ask several people, you will most likely get completely different answers to what a digital twin is, but for the construction and real estate industry, digital twins offer great opportunities for efficiency, sustainability and increased profitability.

But what exactly is a digital twin in the construction and real estate industry, and what is the point? In this case, we give you a quick overview of what you as a property owner need to know. 

Simply explained, a digital twin is a digital reconstruction of something that exists in reality – whether it is physical objects, places, systems or people. So you have a physical object, in our case a building, which you recreate in a virtual 3D version, using BIM (Building information modeling). But! This is not enough for something to be called a digital twin. Although it is a widespread perception.

The difference between a geometric and a digital twin

The definition we have used so far is not a digital twin, but a geometric twin. The great thing about digital twins is the ability to exchange data between the two objects, the property in reality and the 3D model. Without this ability to link them to each other and to exchange data, it is not a digital twin. 

Digital models of physical things are by no means something new. But the fact that a digital twin uses data from the physical world for analysis and machine learning, means that the twin is constantly learning from the real object – assets, preferably in real time. This way of defining digital twins is supported by the UK BIM Alliance in England and Building Smart International.

A geometric twin looks the same as the building, but it takes more to create a digital twin. The interesting thing only happens when you can connect via sensors to the physical building's data about, for example, heating, cooling, light, water or air.  You bring the information into the digital twin and can thus analyze the data and use the results to make informed decisions about, for example, energy use. 

A digital twin is based on both input and output. As the twin develops, the energy consumption in the property can become increasingly autonomous and self-governing. A simple example: the digital twin knows that meeting room 1 will be used between 9 and 12 o'clock. It takes care that meeting room 1 is heated up to 20 degrees during the period it is used, and ensures that the air is clean. The digital twin is linked to a calendar that also registers the sensors when the building is in use. This means that through the digital twin, you can control the energy consumption after the use of the building.

Why are so few people using digital twins? 

Now that you know what a digital twin is, you may be wondering why this is not already used more in the construction and real estate industry. As said, not everyone understands what a digital twin really is, even if they want to use the word. It has become a buzzword in many industries, but only few people know how to create value from the concept. Here, there are great opportunities to gain a head start over the competition for property owners who not only talk about, but use new technologies and digital twins. 

The opportunities for efficiency, increased profitability and not least sustainable choices for your real estate portfolio are enormous. The real estate and construction industry as a whole has not yet taken over the power that lies in digital twins, and the authorities are not keeping up with the digitalization. Norways Statsbygg is one of the players that has taken some action, but the majority is still in a digital hibernation in many areas.

What are the benefits of using digital twins on your properties?

Digital twins give you more control over your real estate. 

You get to know much more and learn much more about your building, because you can collect the information in one place. You learn how the building is used, where you use the most energy and on what. You get an overview of your entire portfolio, and get information about where there is a need to upgrade or optimize the building, for example.

Digital twins simplify operations due to increased interaction

There is an exorbitant amount of different operating systems today that do different things. Large players may have dozens of systems in use that do not communicate with each other. The biggest benefit of using digital twins is interaction. You decide who has access to what, and you can integrate systems you already use.

Imagine this scenario: 

Kristoffer, who works in company A, which is a tenant in the building, discovers that a window is broken. He has been given access to notify deviations. Kristine on operation is notified, and by using the digital twin she can go in to find out what kind of window it is. Here is all the relevant documentation and data that she uses to order a new window. All information about the new window is then automatically loaded into the digital twin. You as a property owner can have full control over everything in all your properties if you wish. If reuse is important, you may be able to find relevant documentation and crucial information about whether the materials are good enough to be used again. 

This interaction becomes possible through the digital twin. You learn how the building is used and have a full overview of all documentation and data. Through the digital twin, you can also set requirements for the information sent to you. The system notifies you when you have received what you have requested. Then you do not get building information in the form of thousands of pdfs you do not have time to review. Instead, you have everything at hand in one place, a digital logbook of your building. 

It is easy to get started with digital twins, so there is no need to sit down and wait.

Do you want to learn more? Contact us for more information about digital twins and our products.