Mustafa Alhashimi, BIM and digital twin expert, explains the benefits and challenges of using digital twins in modern construction.
Digital twins are virtual replicas of physical assets or infrastructure, and one of their primary advantages is their ability to create detailed, interactive models using 3D scanning and AI. These models integrate various types of data, including the geometry of a building, its components and its maintenance history.
Retrofitting
One of the primary uses of digital twins is retrofitting existing buildings to meet modern standards, especially in response to new safety regulations. In the wake of incidents like the Grenfell Tower fire, the UK government introduced legislation requiring building owners to maintain accurate and up-to-date digital profiles of their properties. Digital twins provide a solution by allowing housing associations and property owners to create virtual models, capturing critical building related data which is accessible for both building operators and regulators, ensuring compliance and enhancing safety.
The process typically begins with laser scanning to capture the precise geometry of the building. This data is then used to develop a 3D model that integrates with asset lifecycle management systems. These systems house the building’s layout and asset data, serving as a central hub for managing building related information and ensuring regulatory compliance.
While the retrofitting process can be time consuming and costly — particularly for older buildings that lack proper digital documentation — the benefits of using digital twins include greater sustainability, improved building performance and monitoring maintenance needs over the longer term.
Predictive maintenance
Digital twins are potent predictive maintenance and lifecycle management tools, particularly in infrastructure projects. By continuously monitoring and analysing the performance of critical systems such as heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) units, smoke detectors and other building components, digital twins can detect potential issues before they become problems. For instance, tracking the performance of smoke detectors over time can identify which ones need fewer maintenance visits, helping to optimise maintenance schedules and reduce costs.
As more data is gathered over time, digital twins can help streamline operational efficiency by enabling more targeted maintenance strategies. For example, suppose a common repair of a part or component reaching end-of-life is needed across multiple buildings in a particular area. In that case, maintenance teams can be scheduled to service all relevant buildings simultaneously. This not only saves time associated with travel but also improves productivity. In addition, digital twins can be updated as new technologies or regulations emerge, ensuring that the digital model remains relevant throughout the asset’s lifecycle. By facilitating data sharing and collaboration, digital twins support continuous improvements in infrastructure management, ensuring that buildings remain compliant with evolving safety standards.
Challenges
Despite the many advantages, adopting and implementing digital twins present several challenges. One significant hurdle is the need for more accurate, up-to-date building data, particularly for those older buildings. Missing data makes it difficult to create precise digital profiles, and further complicates the process of retrofitting these buildings to meet modern safety standards.
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Another challenge is the low digital maturity of many organisations, particularly in housing associations, which can hinder the adoption of standardised data formats such as COBie (Construction Operations Building Information Exchange). Without that unified language, collaboration between different departments and third party contractors becomes inefficient, increasing costs and delays.
Additionally, some organisations focus on meeting short-term regulatory requirements rather than investing in long-term digital strategies. This short-sighted approach limits the scalability and full potential of using digital twins.
Finally, a lack of robust cybersecurity can leave organisations vulnerable because of the increased need to share data. Balancing the need for collaboration with the need to protect data remains an ongoing challenge.
Conclusion
Digital twins are transforming how buildings and infrastructure are managed, offering numerous benefits such as improved collaboration, predictive maintenance and greater sustainability. Despite the challenges related to data accuracy, digital maturity and cybersecurity risks, the potential of digital twins is undeniable. By leveraging these technologies, organisations can meet regulatory requirements, optimise building performance and achieve long-term savings through more intelligent decision making and efficient maintenance practices.
Organisations must adopt a comprehensive, long-term strategy that integrates these digital solutions into their operations to realise the full potential of digital twins. This includes investing in training, adopting standardised data formats across the board, and ensuring interoperability across systems. As digital maturity improves and organisations overcome current challenges, digital twins will continue to be a powerful tool for managing infrastructure in the digital age.
