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DIGITALIZATION IN THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT F


or some time Building Information Modelling (BIM) has been used to create digital representations of the built environment, helping designers and constructors


visualize and coordinate their creations. While information models have been used to support decision-making, the ability to do so improves exponentially when these information models are connected to the Internet of Things (IoT). This connection turns digital models into dynamic tools capable of capturing live data which can be used to provide insights and better inform how decisions are made. This new kind of model is called a ‘digital twin.’ As this data grows in volume and


complexity, predictive analytics and artifi cial intelligence (AI) can be integrated to connect and interpret this data and continually improve decision-making. “The connection between the physical asset and the digital twin is the critical thing,” said Nick Monnickendam, Head of Services Marketing at BSI. “For example, sensors on a railway engine could be picking up data on faults developing as it travels along the track, and these faults would be duplicated on the digital twin to predict when the engine needs to go in for maintenance before it actually breaks down. Longer term, the data could be used to change maintenance schedules or improve how the engine performs.” Beyond this example of a relatively limited application for a single asset, the UK’s Centre for Digital Built Britain (CDBB) has ambitions to drive the creation


of a National Digital Twin for the built environment, connecting individual digital twins created by public and private sector organizations. An ecosystem of connected, or interoperable, digital twins opens the opportunity to release even greater value, using data for the public good.


Interoperable digital twins could help plan and manage the nation’s infrastructure more effectively, but this


would only be possible through the secure sharing of high


quality, standardized data across infrastructure and organizations.


With this ambition in mind, BSI has been


working with CDBB to create and run a community around digital twins – called the DT Hub – and to facilitate discussions between members. “The potential is enormous but getting


there takes a lot of hard work,” said Nick. “We have been evaluating the needs of members, then identifying and prioritizing common opportunities and challenges for the DT Hub. Going forward, ideas developed with DT Hub members will inform future good practice and standards.” The DT Hub was initially set up in October 2019 with a small number of major infrastructure players, such as water, electricity and transport companies, who own and operate key physical infrastructure, as well as cities and local authorities. Membership is now being expanded to other stakeholder groups including suppliers, innovators and industry bodies. The DT Hub was offi cially launched at the


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DEFINITION OF A DIGITAL TWIN:


end of March and hundreds of organizations and individuals expressed an interest in getting involved. “There is a strong desire among community members to generate greater value by collaborating around shared challenges,” said Nick “We facilitate activities through an online portal, as well webinars and online events. The community doesn’t want to do everything face-to-face, preferring digital solutions wherever possible – something that has proven to be even more important during the Covid-19 emergency. Working online gives


us greater fl exibility and adds velocity to decision-making. It also helps bring on board a wider community of stakeholders. “The DT Hub is providing a stream of


Nick Monnickendam


different outputs and discussions and these provide the seed content that will feed into best practice and standards. All of this is available to Hub members to read and comment on. As the membership of the community progressively increases, the Hub will continue to evolve and generate further insights.”


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