In recent years, 3D real-time visualisation and digital twins have been changing the way we design, construct and manage buildings.
As Dr Jimmy Abualdenien, Head of Digital Twin Product at Nemetschek Group, says in the PCB Today, the thing these technologies are good at is making “living, breathing” building models.
The Evolution of Building Design
For decades, the AEC industry has used 2D blueprints and CAD drawings. Which are fine for the most part but often don’t capture the complexity and nuances of real-world structures.
These traditional methods are prone to errors and misinterpretations, which can lead to costly delays and redesigns.
The arrival of 3D real-time visualisation through digital twins is a big step forward from these limitations.
Digital twins aren’t just 3D models. They bring together real-time data from different sources, like IoT sensors, building management systems and even external environmental data.
This idea gets even better when you add in cutting-edge tech like AR and VR. That way, people involved in a project can get a feel for a building’s virtual environment long before the first brick is laid.
For instance, in heritage conservation projects, creating a digital twin means combining aerial and terrestrial photogrammetry with 3D laser scanning and geodetic methods.
The 3D geometric documentation process creates really detailed models that are the basis for finite element (FE) analysis.
This helps us understand the structural integrity and potential weaknesses of these historical assets. This kind of detailed modelling means restoration and preservation work is guided by data, which makes it more accurate and reduces the risk of damage.
For additional reference, please read “What Challenges do Digital Twin Solve?“
Living, Breathing Building Models – Real-time Monitoring and Predictive Insights
The real value of digital twins is in how they can show you what’s going on in a building in real time, including how it’s performing and any issues that might arise.
Dr Abualdenien says a digital twin isn’t just a copy of a building. It’s an integrated system built to evolve with the building, capturing every aspect of its operation.
For example, if you connect a digital twin to a building’s HVAC system, lighting controls and energy meters, you can monitor and optimise energy consumption in real time.
In Australia, where energy efficiency and sustainability are big issues, digital twins are a great way to cut operational costs and reduce carbon footprints.
These digital models can be used to test out different scenarios, like adjusting the air conditioning in response to changing weather patterns or altering lighting levels based on occupancy data.
Making these changes can lead to big energy savings, which helps make buildings greener and more sustainable. As well as helping to make buildings more energy-efficient, digital twins can also be used to predict when maintenance is needed.
By keeping an eye on data from sensors in a building’s infrastructure, they can spot potential issues before they become expensive problems.
So, for instance, the digital twin of an office block might spot unusual vibrations in a lift motor, which could mean it’s about to fail. This means the maintenance team can step in before anything goes wrong, keeping everything running smoothly.
A Unified Platform for Stakeholders
The construction process is all about teamwork. Lots of different people are involved, from architects and engineers to facility managers and end-users.
One of the biggest challenges in this collaborative effort has been the way information is stored in different places, which often leads to misunderstandings, inefficiencies, and delays.
Dr Jimmy Abualdenien’s insights show how digital twins act as a kind of unified platform that bridges these gaps, enabling everyone involved to communicate and collaborate seamlessly.
In practice, this means the stakeholders can access the digital twin from anywhere, see the latest updates, and make informed decisions based on real-time data.
For instance, in a big infrastructure project in Australia, an architect in Sydney can work with an engineer in Melbourne on the same digital twin model, adding notes and discussing changes in real time.
This kind of collaboration speeds up the decision-making process and also cuts down on the chance of expensive mistakes and extra work.
On top of that, digital twins let us engage with end-users more effectively, like tenants and building occupants.
The building’s visual representation helps occupants understand how the space is being used, which gives them a chance to give feedback that can be used to improve the design and functionality of the building.
This approach helps people feel like they’re part of the process, which leads to more buildings that are designed with the user in mind.
Before going further, you can read “How Secure is Your Digital Twin?” as a reference.
Balancing Technology Push and Market Pull of Digital Twins
While digital twins have huge potential, Dr Abualdenien says they need to be implemented carefully to get the best results.
Dr Abualdenien says it’s crucial to find a balance between the “market pull” and “technology push.”
This is why one of the main issues has been the digital twins solutions have been made too complicated.
The overcomplicated solutions have led to expensive and difficult to maintain digital twin systems. To get through this, it’s beneficial to take a step-by-step approach, focusing on the most important problems first.
For instance, an interactive floor plan digital twin – a simple 2D model with dynamic data – could be a good place to start for an office building.
As the technology gets better and people get more familiar with it, we can start using more complex digital twins. This way, digital twins are sure to be worth the investment from the start, which is great for building owners and operators.
The Future of the AEC Industry Towards a Digital Twin
As Dr Abualdenien says, digital twins are more than just tools; they’re a way of taking a more holistic approach to building design, construction and management.
For the Australian and Asia-Pacific AEC sector, digital twins are a great way to stay ahead of the game and embrace new ideas to make buildings more sustainable, cost-effective, and user-centric.
By using 3D visualisation and real-time data, we can change the way we interact with our built environment. This will help us create structures that are more efficient and also more suited to the needs of the people who use them.
But as we move forward, the challenge will be to keep making digital twins better and better, so they’re easy to use, useful, and can be adapted to different situations.
This is why with over 10 years of experience, Interscale got a full range of services to help you get to grips with the BIM and digital twin landscape. We know our stuff when it comes to BIM management, data integration, and digital twin development.
What does it mean for your business?
We’re here to support you and make sure the transition is seamless and the project is a success. We’ve got a great track record of delivering successful BIM and digital twin projects across Australia.
One of our most recent projects was the Ewert Leaf project, where we developed a framework to make sure we were using energy as efficiently as possible and reducing operating costs.
If you just want to get an overview of how we work, you can read our Interscale BIM Management Support page.
And whenever you’re ready for coffee and croissants, let’s catch up. No hard sell, no pushy pitch. Let’s discuss your BIM challenges and how we can help you tackle them.
