Technology is changing our world at a rapid pace. It is improving productivity and efficiency in everything we do, making our lives easier than ever before. The invention of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) improved our capabilities to work on bigger and more complex projects in less time, resulting in unprecedented achievements and growth in almost every walk of life. The advanced concept of a digital twin is a fine example in this regard.
What is a Digital Twin?
With the use of AI and other autonomous systems, this technology creates digital replicas of real-world objects, helping experts to collect and examine data-driven analytics.
Digital twin technology is no less than a blessing for the construction industry. It is now being widely used in different countries for the development and management of large-scale real estate and infrastructure projects.
When and Who Coined the Concept of Digital Twin Technology?
The concept of the digital twin was first publicly introduced nearly two decades ago. Michael Grieves is credited for the invention of this game-changing technological concept back in 2002. He was then a faculty member at the University of Michigan.
The digital twin concept was introduced to improve Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) no matter the industry it serves. The technology has recently been wholeheartedly adopted by the construction industry, which is already resulting in extraordinary outputs. And, keeping in view the remarkable scope and extensive features of a digital twin, we have added this high-tech innovation to the list of the most disruptive construction technology trends in 2022.
The Role of Digital Twin in the Construction Industry
The digital twin technology has taken the concept of 3D modelling in construction to a whole new level. It provides accurate data on the properties and states of physical objects. With the help of AI and other automated technologies, it is very convenient to keep digital twins synchronised with their corresponding real-life objects.
The process involves cloud data, surveying data, and different types of IoT sensors with the help of which devices send information back and forth. The data accumulated by these multiple resources is then analysed and integrated into a 3D model, which significantly aids the construction and development work on a particular project.
Digital Twin and Building Information Model (BIM)
Building Information Models (BIMs) are the advanced form of construction blueprints. The information collected from a digital twin is fed into a BIM to improve its reliability and efficiency. When a grand-scale development activity is underway, digital twins become a source of crucial and analytical information, which keeps the BIM planning and actual processes desirably synced.
Benefits of Using Digital Twins in Construction Activities
With the help of digital twins, project managers and stakeholders are now able to reconstruct even the tiniest elements of the physical environment. All the experimentation and testing are now carried out digitally before tackling real-life challenges to ensure the safety of everyone involved. Moreover, it also allows the construction team to analyse the expected outcomes in a better and more detailed manner.
In addition to the aforementioned advantages, other benefits of digital twins in the construction industry include:
Improved Connectivity: Digital twins work with a centralised platform, which is the hub of all the information collected. This technology has been a remarkable addition to the BIM concept, taking the technology a bit further.
Digital twins are designed to automatically update and keep 3D models synced with data collected from the actual construction site. This helps architects and engineers to compute data for the project dimensions and other physical details in a better way.
Better Project Management: With the aid of AI and IoT, digital twins streamline processes, creating a seamless information pipeline between the project workspace and the construction site. The stakeholders of the project greatly benefit from the automatic data delivery system. It allows timely prediction and resolution of different types of issues involving material allocation and workforce to manage a development project more efficiently.
Pinpointing Problems for Quicker Solutions: Besides helping with connectivity and project management, Digital twins can also help significantly reduce the burden of asset management. In terms of wear and tear, a digital twin is programmed to locate and pinpoint areas with issues.
The next step involves the creation of a thorough report with the details of the problem, which is shared with the experts if need be. The system is so advanced that it can even sort and keep track of billing for the repairs.
Informed Decision Making: Digital twins continue to offer imperative support to project owners even after the completion of the structure. The crucial data fetched from the cutting-edge system keeps everyone updated with structural maintenance and enhancement processes. Consequently, these invaluable insights result in informed decision-making.
Considering all the aforementioned benefits, engineers, architects and construction experts around the world are now turning to digital twin technology to plan and maintain entire cities. The advanced development technologies paired with data-driven analytics would surely help the metropolitan areas reduce their carbon footprints while ensuring sustainable infrastructure.
We hope you liked reading this piece about the rapidly emerging digital twin technology in the construction industry. If you have any questions or feedback on the subject, write to us at blog@zameen.com.
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