A data-driven approach is key for efficient and successful construction projects. Cristina Savian shares some insights on how digital twins combined with a Building Lifecycle Intelligence approach, and openBIM, provided by software providers as the Nemetschek Group, can help accelerate digitalisation of the AEC/O industry
“With trusted data, great things happen.” This is the new tagline from nima, the former UK BIM Alliance. As a strong advocate for the adoption of digital twins in the built environment, I could not agree more with this statement. It is a statement echoed by many industry professionals, including the Nemetschek Group, who firmly believe that purpose-driven creation and management of data can be used to generate powerful results, which is also the heart and core of digital twins.
Digital twins can be an invaluable tool for the AEC/O industry, providing priceless insights into a built asset for better decision-making during operation or even during the design of your next project. The possibilities of creating value are endless, including improving quality of life, reducing operating costs and reducing waste of material and energy overall, driving a more sustainable built environment for humanity.
In order to fully realise this vision, digital twins must be able to process and analyse meaningful data that is structured in a manageable format. This means the data needs to be machine-readable as well as integrated into one single version of the truth – which is one of the current stumbling blocks.
A digital twin basically is a digital replica of the physical building where digitalised information is linked to its physical counterpart for monitoring and management of the various KPI’s of the physical asset. In an ideal case, these values kept synchronised between the physical asset and the digital twin according to usage frequency and data fidelity (see also the RICS Whitepaper-March 2022).
But today’s reality in construction projects looks different: data is created and used in silos and not coordinated across multiple stakeholders of the construction process or, in many instances, not even made accessible to all players. As a result, the design data ends up frozen in proprietary files that can no longer be used for other purposes downstream, including using it as part of a digital twin. The result is a “vendor lock-in” effect, which erodes the value of the data for the end user.
The relevance of open standards and openBIM
An open standard-based approach, such as the Building Lifecycle Intelligence openBIM approach advocated for years by Nemetschek Group, can help break down these silos and lower the cost of ownership for users. This approach helps because the interoperability of data sources is absolutely critical for the entire building lifecycle from design and development to operation. OpenBIM allows everyone a choice on the technology they want to use, while providing the critical common language essential for the inclusion of all stakeholders.
Open standards are, therefore, critical for digital twins as well. There is no doubt that the task of developing, agreeing on and adopting a common language on a global scale is a daunting task – it takes time to develop open standards and ensure their adoption and often against strong opposition. Oftentimes, despite the existence of open standards, they are not being used due to the “lock-in” effect mentioned above, but the clear value of the golden thread of data for the owner will help make this transition happen.
The good news is that a significant amount of progress has already been made in developing and improving specific open standards for digital twins. The BuildingSMART Digital Twins Working Group, formed in February 2020, aims to develop an IFC standard for digital twins.
A National Digital Twin programme has also been launched in the United Kingdom. This programme is targeted at developing an ecosystem of digital twins to improve the UK’s national infrastructure. As a result, the British Standards Institution (BSI), Cambridge University and Centre for Digital Built Britain (CDBB) joined forces to create a unified framework for digital twins in the built environment, which is supported by their Pathway to the Information Management Framework. In addition, ISO has installed two technical committees for developing digital twin standards, one for a manufacturing digital twin framework and the other for IoT and related technologies.
Opportunities for the built environment
In the construction lifecycle, open standards are already creating opportunities for interoperable ways of utilising built environment data sources more intelligently to improve most incumbent digital twin use cases.
There are doubts to the benefits that the use of open standard-based digital twins will bring to our built assets – what remains is the work that needs to make this the mainstream way of operation in our industry. As a start the industry can leverage the insights that purpose-driven data can provide today so that “with trusted data, great things will happen”.
Desiree Goldstein
Communication Specialist
Nemetschek Group
*Please note: This is a contributor profile.
