Digital twins (or virtual tours as they are also known) are virtual 3D representations of real-world assets. Originally utilised for marketing purposes, the data captured within digital twins is rapidly becoming an essential asset for multiple business streams, offering a powerful platform for data analysis, design and planning, and business optimisation.
We’re going to delve into four key areas where digital twins are demonstrating significant value for businesses across a wide range of industries.
1. Enhancing Health and Safety Protocols
Digital twins are transforming health and safety practices by enabling proactive risk assessment and mitigation. In sectors like construction and manufacturing, virtual replicas of work environments, integrated with real-time sensor data, allow digital site walks and remote team collaboration to identify potential hazards, plan security procedures such as emergency evacuations, and the development of preventative measures before incidents occur.
Furthermore, digital twins offer a safe environment for training employees on complex or hazardous tasks, minimising the risk of workplace injuries. Traditional training methods often struggle to replicate the complexities and potential hazards of real-world scenarios. Digital twins provide a solution by offering immersive, risk-free training environments.
Trainees can interact with virtual replicas of systems and equipment, practicing procedures, troubleshooting issues, and experiencing various scenarios without real-world consequences. This is particularly beneficial in high-risk industries like aviation, energy, and healthcare, where errors can have significant repercussions. Digital twins allow for repeated practice and skill development, fostering competence and confidence.
Across the construction sector, the adoption of digital twin solutions as part of an established BIM workflow is becoming commonplace. A study by Dodge Data & Analytics found that 42% of construction firms using BIM and digital twin technologies reported improved safety outcomes, highlighting the potential of these tools to enhance health and safety in the industry. Skanska, a global construction firm, used digital twins to create virtual replicas of construction sites. This allowed them to identify and mitigate risks before they became issues, leading to a 30% reduction in safety incidents.
2. Optimising Predictive Maintenance Strategies
Unplanned downtime due to equipment failure can significantly impact productivity and profitability. Digital twins address this challenge by enabling predictive maintenance. By connecting the virtual model to its physical counterpart via IoT sensors, real-time data on performance parameters like temperature, vibration, and energy consumption can be collected and analysed.
Sophisticated algorithms can then identify patterns and anomalies indicative of impending failures, enabling proactive maintenance scheduling and minimising disruptions. This approach optimises resource allocation, extends equipment lifespan, and reduces operational costs.This data can be overlaid into real-world devices such as interactive glasses, allowing the spatial information to be utilised in real time by workforces, or as assistance for contractors visiting site, assisting with wayfinding and data reporting to speed up repairs and maintenance.
For instance, General Electric reported a 20% reduction in maintenance costs by using digital twins to predict equipment failures and optimise maintenance schedules. This proactive approach minimised downtime and extended the lifespan of machinery.
3. Streamlining Facilities Management and Operations
Managing large facilities efficiently requires careful monitoring and optimisation of various systems. Digital twins offer a centralised platform for integrating data from building management systems, including HVAC, lighting, and security. This provides real-time insights into energy consumption, occupancy patterns, and equipment performance, enabling facility managers to optimise resource allocation, reduce energy costs, and enhance occupant comfort.
Digital twins also facilitate scenario planning, allowing for the simulation of events like power outages or fires to develop and test emergency response procedures. Via the integration of pre-existing systems into the digital twin, building access , security systems or heating and power controls can be monitored and controlled.
Jones Lang LaSalle, a global real estate management firm, reported that integration with digital twins and live systems helped reduce energy consumption in commercial buildings by 15-20%. This was achieved by optimising HVAC systems and lighting based on real-time data.
4. Planning for Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC)
Digital twins are revolutionising the AEC industry by providing a collaborative platform for design, construction, and building lifecycle management. Virtual building models allow architects and engineers to visualise designs in three dimensions, cost-effectively capture accurrate LiDAR-powered survey data, and conduct virtual walks around sites with clients, project managers and suppliers during the planning phase.
During construction, digital twins facilitate progress tracking, allowing build snapshots to be captured regularly, including progress surveys and for issues to be identified and solutions put into place prior to continuatiuon. Matterport’s traditional 3D virtual tour capture technology allows architects and contractors to create as-built models in a fraction of the time compared to traditional methods. This has led to 30-40% faster project turnarounds and saving up to 20% in site measurement costs compared to trafitional onsite measuring practices.
Upon completion, the digital twin can be transferred to the facility manager, providing a valuable tool for ongoing maintenance and operations.
Wondering how to embrace digital twins in your workflows?
VisualEyes has over 10 years experience delivering digital twin solutions for our clients. With the massive changes that the latest technomlogies are allowing in these sectors, we are happy to help guide you through the potential solutions and impacts digital twins could have on your business.
Contact us if you would like to discuss any of the areas discussed in this blog
