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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

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