Two of a kind: what are digital twins and how do they work?

Posted on: 22 July, 2024

How are digital twins helping the built environment adapt to climate change and make sustainable development a reality?

Buildings are responsible for 40% of global energy consumption, and the built environment and construction industry accounts for 33% of waste and water usage worldwide. The amount of waste being produced is expected to rise even further, from 2.01 billion metric tonnes in 2016 to 3.40 billion metric tonnes by 2050. Unfortunately, poor management means that at least a third of this will be sent to dumpsites or burned.

These figures are particularly concerning as it has been estimated that over the next 40 years, the world will build 230 billion square metres in new construction every single week. That is roughly the size of Paris being created every week. With that in mind, substantial changes need to happen to make buildings and infrastructure more energy-efficient and reduce the amount of waste being produced.

The good news is that new technologies are already changing the way we approach construction and making way for innovation within a sustainable built environment. It’s becoming increasingly apparent that big data and digitalisation are the future. These tools can revolutionise the way we plan, design and build new towns, cities and other key infrastructure, whilst also making it possible to reach bigger goals like achieving net zero.

One such tool is digital twin technology, but what is it and how can this be applied to architecture and the built environment?

What is digital twin technology?

A digital twin, as the name suggests, is a digital representation of a physical object; a replica (or twin) but in digital form. Digital twins use real and up-to-date data sources to reflect the original version as accurately as possible. They then generate a layer of behavioural insights and visualisations from this data.

This could be a product twin that represents a physical product, for example, Google Maps uses real-time data to act as a digital representation of the Earth’s surface and replaces the need for a physical map. Alternatively, it might be a production plant twin to represent manufacturing facilities, procurement and supply chain, or infrastructure twins that represent physical infrastructure like a building, stadium or a network of roads. It might even be a digital representation of a person. No matter what the type of digital twin technology, these representations are used to give context to the digital version of an environment or object, as well as simulate real-life scenarios.

As the digital representation simulates real-world behaviour, it is possible to get a better understanding of how the physical object, person or process might behave. This can help to optimise planning and decision-making, allowing users to deliver more accurate and agile operations.

4 different types of digital twins

There are four main types of digital twin technology and these depend on how magnified a product or process needs to be, as well as the areas of application. This means that some systems will have more than one type of digital twin co-existing within a system or process. These are:

• Component (or parts) twins: The smallest and most basic type of digital twin technology is a component twin.
• Asset twins: An asset is made up of two or more components that work together. Asset twin technology allows you to study how those components interact with one another, providing detailed performance data.
• System twins: A system is made up of different assets working together to create a functioning system. This is the next level of magnification, which provides visibility and insights into how these assets interact and work together.
• Process twins: This is the highest level of magnification as this technology shows how multiple systems work together to form an entire production facility or process. These tools look at how the systems within synchronise with one another, whether they are efficient enough and if they are effective.

5 benefits of digital twin technology

There are many applications for digital twins, all the way from design to construction and operation. Here are some of the key benefits of using digital twin technology in this industry:

1. Improving research and design

Digital twins can use data to predict possible performance outcomes and lead to helpful insights that allow professionals to refine designs before production begins. What’s more, they can also be used to simulate different design scenarios, making it possible to optimise designs and make more informed decisions, for example, choosing the right materials, layouts or construction methods.

2. Increasing reliability and efficiency

Digital twins make it possible to mirror and monitor production systems in both manufacturing and construction. They can also be used to identify potential bottlenecks in manufacturing and construction processes and adjust these accordingly before work continues.

This can increase the reliability of equipment, production and building processes and reduce downtime. This enables businesses to improve efficiency and maintain this throughout the project, from start to finish.

3. Encouraging sustainability and eco-friendly practices

Digital twins can play an integral role in improving sustainability efforts within the built environment. These tools can be used to fine-tune product design to reduce the amount of materials required or waste produced.

They can also be used to improve the traceability of these products or materials to reduce the amount being thrown away into landfills. This is achieved by managing products and materials at the end of life, helping those in the built environment decide what to do with products that are no longer useable; encouraging recycling and sustainability. Subsequently, digital twins are already reducing scrap waste by as much as 20%.

4. Monitoring energy and maintenance

Digital twins can be used to monitor and optimise assets or processes, gathering data on important aspects such as energy usage, maintenance and facility management.

Using this data can help to save money, reduce the amount of energy being consumed and cut carbon emissions, which can help to tackle ongoing climate and environmental issues.

5. Improving quality and building standards

Using multiple real-time applications and digital twin environments you can gather invaluable insights. This enhanced insight into design, performance and maintenance makes it possible to increase the quality of materials, building processes and infrastructure. What’s more, owners or operators of buildings can continue to gather these insights over time, enabling them to continually improve performance and create smarter buildings.

For example, a building owner can assess occupant behaviour and patterns to utilise space better. They could also theorise the impact of design changes, weather disruptions or security events to create the safest, most efficient and comfortable buildings.

Learn more: Smart buildings, explained – here’s what they mean for the built environment

The challenges of digital twin technology

Though there may be a number of key advantages for digital twin technology, these tools currently still pose some key challenges that must be overcome:

• A lack of standardisation
• Issues with data management and compliance, including data privacy and security
• Barriers to its implementation and legacy system transformation
• The risk of misrepresentation, not accurately replicating an object or system
• The complexity of its architecture and the need to update old IT infrastructure
• Integrating these tools with existing systems, software and processes
• The cost of digital twin solutions and investing in this technology, which must then be developed, maintained and standardised

Why digital twin technology matters

Despite these key challenges, there are lots of great potential applications for digital twin technology in architecture and the built environment. For this reason, these new tools are vital for the future of the industry and for the planet.

As digital twins can mirror the entire lifecycle of a product, they can be applied to all stages of the manufacturing and construction process, from design to recycling or retrofitting.

Digital twins can play a vital role in retrofitting existing structures and built assets. As governments around the world make commitments to cutting carbon emissions and achieving net zero by 2050, this really matters.

Learn more: A guide to retrofitting (and how it could help us reach net zero)

On top of this, urbanisation and a growing population means that sustainable spaces and designs are imperative, as is better waste management and reducing the reliance on natural resources. Digital twins can assist with resource management and more accurate forecasting to reduce waste. It can also contribute towards creating better quality structures that last longer and that can be more effectively recycled at the end of life.

Final thoughts

Digital twins could play a pivotal role in the future of the built environment. Yes, this technology is not without its challenges, but governing bodies, along with those working in the built environment need to find the best ways to overcome problems like data security, lack of standardisation and the cost and complexity of these systems.

Investment in digital twin technology can help to reach larger environmental goals such as becoming net zero, as well as producing more sustainable infrastructure for the future. Through increased efficiency and accuracy, these tools can transform the industry, making it clear that there needs to be more education, investment and research into digital twin technology.

Architectural technologists are the digital experts that bridge the gap between an aesthetic vision and a practical reality. If you want to be at the forefront of the built environment’s digital future, UCEM’s BSc (Hons) Architectural Design Technology will give you the technical expertise and literacy you need to become a valuable contributor to the sector.

Find out more: BSc (Hons) Architectural Design Technology – University College of Estate Management