A Digital Twin in the context of Building Information Modeling (BIM) refers to a dynamic virtual replica that accurately represents a physical building or infrastructure asset in real-time. It serves as a live digital counterpart that is continuously updated to reflect the actual state and performance of the constructed facility.
Unlike a standard 3D model which is a static representation, a digital twin is a data-driven simulation model that integrates sensor data from the operational asset to mirror its current and evolving conditions virtually. This bidirectional connection between the physical and digital instances enables real-time monitoring, analysis, forecasting and testing of scenarios.
Digital twins leverage the data-rich BIM process as a foundation but transcend it by fusing BIM geometry with live asset data streams relating to occupancy patterns, energy usage, environmental conditions, system performance and more. The resulting unified data model provides a holistic, up-to-date virtual view into how the asset is designed versus how it actually functions.
These cyber-physical models empower stakeholders to visualize the asset's digital twin, study its behaviors through simulations, and run 'what-if' scenarios to predict outcomes of design changes, maintenance activities or disruption events before implementation. Digital twins essentially serve as a real-time decision support environment.
By bridging the physical and digital worlds, digital twins unlock new insights into built assets that boost operational efficiency, sustainability, safety and lifecycle performance. Facilities managers can leverage digital twins to optimize operations, plan maintenance, and enhance occupant experiences through data-driven facility management.
