Interscale Content Hub – BIM and digital twins are changing the construction and architecture industries. They’re a match made in heaven.
Building Information Modeling (BIM) refers to the process of creating detailed 3D models that represent a building’s physical and functional aspects.
Digital twins take this idea a step further by creating dynamic, real-time digital replicas of physical assets. This lets you monitor and optimize continuously.
As these technologies improve, it’s becoming increasingly important to combine them for forward-thinking firms.
But what exactly are they, and how do they work together? Let’s break it down.
Definition and Core Functions of BIM in Construction
As explained in the paper “From BIM towards Digital Twin: Strategy and Future Development for Smart Asset Management” by Qiuchen Lu, Xiang Xie, James Heaton, Ajith Kumar Parlikad, and Jennifer Schooling, BIM is a digital representation of a facility’s physical and functional characteristics.
BIM is a one-stop shop for all the info you need to make better decisions throughout a building’s life cycle, from design and construction to operation and maintenance (O&M).
One of the main things BIM is good for is showing designs in 3D. BIM gives stakeholders the ability to visualize and analyze designs in more detail and in a more comprehensive way through the use of detailed 3D models.
Another thing BIM does is find any problems with the design. BIM brings all the building systems together—like electrical, plumbing, and HVAC—into one model. This lets you spot any conflicts before construction starts.
Let’s say, for instance, a plumbing line crosses paths with an electrical conduit. If there’s a clash, the BIM model will show it, so the design team can fix it digitally before it affects the construction schedule.
BIM also helps with cost estimation. The BIM model lets you do detailed quantity take-offs, which is great for budgeting and financial planning.
BIM also helps with scheduling by including time-related info, which is called 4D BIM.
By running through the construction process in a simulation, project managers can spot any potential delays and make any necessary adjustments to the construction plan.
As a starting point for anyone working in the housing sector, kindly read “Digital Twins Real Estate 101 Guide to Innovation of Manage Properties.”
What are Digital Twins and What Roles Do They Play in Building Projects?
Qiuchen Lu and his colleagues also explain how digital twins use real-time data to mirror the condition and behavior of their real-world counterparts.
This dynamic representation lets you keep an eye on things and make improvements as you go, which is really important in construction projects.
By combining data from sensors and IoT devices, digital twins can assess how well building systems are working and spot potential problems before they happen.
This means you can schedule maintenance before things break, which cuts down on downtime and makes building components last longer.
DTs also let you monitor buildings in real time, which helps you optimize energy usage and other operational parameters.
For instance, digital twins can track how many people are in the building and adjust the lighting and HVAC systems accordingly to save energy during low-occupancy periods, which helps to reduce operational costs.
Digital twins can also help you run through different scenarios. By running different scenarios through the digital twin, stakeholders can see how changes or interventions might affect the physical asset without actually making them.
For instance, a digital twin can simulate the addition of a new building wing, letting engineers evaluate structural integrity, energy performance, and cost implications before construction begins.
Plus, digital twins help with managing the whole lifecycle of the asset. They provide a continuous stream of data throughout the asset’s lifecycle, from design and construction to operation and maintenance.
For instance, in the design phase, digital twins can help you get the layout just right for energy efficiency.
And during the operational phase, they can manage maintenance schedules and keep an eye on the building’s condition, making sure it’s running smoothly and sustainably.
How Do BIM and Digital Twins Integrate Technically?
The combination of Building Information Modeling (BIM) and digital twins is a pretty sophisticated process that brings together the best of both technologies to make managing assets easier and more efficient throughout their lifecycle.
Qiuchen Lu and her colleagues say the integration process involves a few key technical steps.
The first step is to integrate the data, which is where we add real-time data from sensors and IoT devices to the BIM models to create a dynamic digital twin.
This means we need to have solid data integration frameworks in place that can handle large volumes of data efficiently.
The integration makes sure that the digital twin can show you what the physical asset is like right now, so you can keep updating it and monitor it in real time.
Another big technical issue is interoperability. It’s about making sure that different software tools and platforms used in BIM and digital twin implementations can talk to each other easily.
This interoperability is really important for getting BIM and digital twins to work together properly, as it allows data to be shared easily between different systems.
BuildingSMART’s open-source data format, IFC, is a popular choice for this purpose, as it allows various stakeholders to exchange BIM-related information.
Model calibration is all about keeping the digital twin up to date with real-world data so it reflects the physical asset accurately.
This process is really important for keeping the digital twin up to date, so it reflects what’s going on in the real world and any changes to the physical environment.
Advanced analytics are really important in the integration process. By using machine learning and AI algorithms, data from digital twins can be analyzed to provide useful insights for decision-making.
These advanced analytics help us predict when maintenance is needed, make operations more efficient, and improve how well the asset performs overall.
For more on how DT can benefit your long-term sustainability, kindly read “The Digital Twins and Sustainability to Waste Warriors & Energy Wizards.”
What are the Benefits of Integrating BIM with Digital Twins?
Bringing real-time data and advanced analytics together gives stakeholders a complete picture of how a building is performing, helping them make better decisions.
For instance, facility managers can use data from digital twins to make their buildings run better, plan maintenance more effectively, and make better use of resources.
Predictive maintenance, made possible by digital twins, helps us spot potential issues before they become costly repairs.
This proactive approach helps keep building systems up and running and makes them last longer.
Plus, using BIM and digital twins to manage resources more efficiently helps cut down on waste and lower operational costs.
With digital twins, you can keep an eye on how your building is performing at all times. This lets you make changes that will help it use energy more efficiently.
So, we can improve sustainability by making sure we use energy efficiently and reduce waste.
Another great thing about this is increased safety. Monitoring the building conditions and structural health in real time helps keep everyone safe, including the occupants and maintenance staff.
For instance, digital twins can spot structural issues or dangerous situations, prompting prompt action to prevent accidents.
Now, can you see how complex the intersection of BIM and DTs is?
The fusion of BIM and digital twins offers the AEC industry a lot of potential, but it can be tricky to navigate the complexities of these technologies.
That’s why we at Interscale have put together a range of services and solutions to support you in implementing and managing BIM and digital twins on your projects.
How do we do that?
Our experienced team works with you to figure out what you want to get out of BIM, figure out the best way to do things and choose the software tools that are right for you.
We don’t just create BIM models; we build the foundation for your digital twin, making sure we get the details right and create an accurate and detailed representation of your building.
We link your BIM model to real-time data sources, so your digital twin stays up to date and always reflects the latest changes to your physical building.
We’d also be happy to set up a one-on-one meeting to discuss your specific needs and how we can help make your project successful.
In Closing
BIM and digital twins are changing how we do construction and architecture. The fusion makes projects more efficient, sustainable, and safer.
As the industry and tech evolve, it’s worth thinking about having a BIM supporting system like Interscale.
That way, you can tailor these technologies to your specific project needs, making the most of BIM and digital twins.
