CU Jan-Feb 2020
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INDUSTRY comment<br />
Think of a digital twin as a 'digital<br />
superstructure' which connects different<br />
systems and sensors together, through<br />
a virtual representation of an asset. A<br />
digital twin isn't something that sits in<br />
isolation. Using sensors, it is bound to<br />
the physical asset to give a true to life,<br />
equal image of the built asset.<br />
THE INDUSTRY'S<br />
TECHNOLOGICAL FUTURE<br />
Although the industry has been hesitant<br />
to adopt new technologies and ways to<br />
work, it can unanimously agree that<br />
digital twins are having a beneficial<br />
effect across the supply chain; helping<br />
to store and manage data, use data to<br />
enhance the build and future operation<br />
of an asset, and prevent risks.<br />
Since the mid-1990s, the industry has<br />
been trying to improve how its workforce<br />
manages information. Email took over<br />
from paper and this extended to the<br />
internet, which provides a common<br />
interface where information can be<br />
accessed. The subsequent proliferation<br />
of broadband and smartphones has<br />
meant that the industry has been able to<br />
capitalise on technology and make it<br />
business as usual.<br />
One of the key benefits of digital twins<br />
will be how clients interrogate data and<br />
use it for decision making. This could<br />
include decisions around M&E and the<br />
performance of specific components,<br />
which may then reflect their future<br />
specification decisions. It could also<br />
help to improve service and<br />
maintenance decisions, streamlining<br />
processes and making cost savings<br />
based on information received.<br />
WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES?<br />
More often than not companies will<br />
have different drivers for deciding to<br />
adopt a digital twin, and the scale and<br />
scope of adoption will vary from one<br />
estate to another. For this reason the<br />
concept of a digital twin is, at best,<br />
dependent on the individual aims and<br />
wishes of a client.<br />
However, even though the definition of<br />
digital twins can vary from one customer<br />
to the next, there is still a high proportion<br />
of the construction sector which is<br />
unversed in the real-time, tangible<br />
benefits this technology has to offer.<br />
Many of them are still unsure of how<br />
favourable digital twins are and whose<br />
responsibility it is to manage them.<br />
The responsibility of who owns the<br />
digital twin when it is handed over to the<br />
asset owner is a complex factor, which<br />
puts to debate questions on ownership,<br />
security and accountability.<br />
Some may argue that administering<br />
responsibility to all parties is a recipe for<br />
digital chaos. The 'manager' should be<br />
whoever the asset owner contractually<br />
states. That way, the asset owner can<br />
be very specific about how information<br />
and data are presented and stored, and<br />
who is responsible for updating<br />
information models.<br />
On the contrary, others in the industry<br />
believe the digital twin is everyone's<br />
responsibility: the operations and FM<br />
teams, company administrators plus<br />
key stakeholders. As the digital twin is<br />
able to access and store live sensor<br />
data, the supply chain will have to<br />
procure information differently and<br />
make better decisions to assure the<br />
efficient performance of the physical<br />
asset. For that reason, it is arguably<br />
healthier for everyone to be speaking<br />
the same language from the start.<br />
What we can all agree on, however, is<br />
the importance of security. If a digital<br />
twin is left unmanaged, companies<br />
have the threats of cyber-attack,<br />
network hack and data theft, enabling<br />
malicious individuals to gain access to<br />
the physical asset and its connected<br />
'twin'. Cyber-attacks cause severe<br />
reputational and economic damage,<br />
and place the safety of personnel and<br />
assets in jeopardy. It is crucial then that<br />
organisations highlight the parties<br />
responsible for the management of the<br />
digital twin and cybersecurity, to keep<br />
threats at bay.<br />
LOOKING FORWARD<br />
When it comes to adopting digital twins,<br />
there are going to be challenges along<br />
the way, both in terms of a change in<br />
mindset and work process. One issue<br />
will be around encouraging the<br />
adoption of industry-wide naming<br />
conventions - this is something that will<br />
take time to unravel and agree upon! It<br />
also needs to be understood that digital<br />
twins can get old. Assets portfolios<br />
change over time and one of the key<br />
challenges will be ensuring the<br />
guardian of the digital twin is kept<br />
updated on developments, so the data<br />
can be kept up to date.<br />
For example, whether it is minor<br />
refurbishment work or alterations to a<br />
building, all information would need to<br />
be fed back into the digital twin to<br />
ensure it continues to be a like-for-like<br />
replica of the actual building. Without<br />
this, the twin will expire and cease to<br />
serve its purpose.<br />
With all these points in mind, surely<br />
digital twins (geolocated within a<br />
broader digital ecosystem or estate) are<br />
the Holy Grail, providing clients with the<br />
information needed to make informed<br />
decisions. Over time, digital twins will<br />
enable asset owners and estate<br />
managers to improve how they manage<br />
their various properties/built assets and<br />
implement strategies to improve the<br />
quality of these, whilst saving costs<br />
across product specification,<br />
maintenance and alterations. The<br />
potential benefits should make digital<br />
twins the ultimate goal for every large<br />
estate owner.<br />
There are going to be hurdles along<br />
the way, but the barriers are more a<br />
case of a change in work culture than<br />
'double trouble'. The benefits of digital<br />
twins are easy to recognise; the<br />
industry's real battle is ensuring its<br />
workforces have the training and will to<br />
make them a reality.<br />
To learn more about the digital twin<br />
debate, download GroupBC's<br />
whitepaper, 'Digital Twins - Double<br />
Trouble or the Holy Grail of Digital<br />
Estates?'<br />
www.groupbc.com/digital-twinsbriefing-download<br />
<strong>Jan</strong>uary/<strong>Feb</strong>ruary <strong>2020</strong> 31