The construction industry is incredibly fast-paced, meaning that any innovation that can accelerate operations will immediately pique the interest of construction professionals. However, this increased efficiency must not come at the expense of safety, as a safety incident could be catastrophic — not to mention deadly. The digital twin is the rare innovation that promises to offer both improved efficiency and safety for fields such as construction.
Outside the construction field, many may not realize the fundamental role that data plays in the construction process. Data can (and should) be a key part of an informed decision-making process. In the world of construction, better decision-making can impact several aspects of performance, such as cost-effectiveness, efficiency, safety, quality and more. It’s no wonder that so many in the construction industry are embracing data-driven tools to improve their operations.
Many construction companies have begun to leverage data in their operations by using digital twin technology. Digital twins are virtual representations of real-world objects. What makes a digital twin so useful is the immense level of detail it reflects thanks to data gathered from sensors. In this way, digital twins are much more realistic than the typical simulation, allowing them to be a beneficial innovation for a wide range of use cases.
The Benefits of Using Digital Twin Technology in Construction
Thanks to this accuracy, digital twins have become an incredibly useful tool for several purposes, including training, real-time monitoring, and simulations. In the construction industry, some of the most beneficial functions of digital twin technology are real-time monitoring and predictive analytics. In other words, digital twins allow construction leaders to see and understand both the current status of their machines and their expected status under a set of expected conditions.
Construction operations that implement digital twin technology can expect to see a plethora of benefits for their operations. Some of the primary benefits of digital twin technology include:
- Increased safety: One key benefit of digital twins for the construction industry is improved safety. Construction sites are full of hazards, not the least of which is machinery. When used in the training process, digital twins can allow workers a risk-free, low-stakes opportunity to learn how to use construction equipment. Beyond this, the ability to take a proactive approach to processes like prototyping and maintenance allows job sites to prioritize safety before dangers arise.
- Improved efficiency: When used effectively, digital twin technology can help construction operations become more efficient. Because of the immense level of data they provide in an easy-to-understand interface, digital twins can help power decision-making. For example, in supply chain management, digital twin technology can be used to monitor a supply chain for disruptions, allowing leaders to make more informed decisions that contribute to greater efficiency on the job site.
- Better cost management: Digital twins can also be a pivotal tool for cost management. During the design process, using digital twins can reduce the financial burden of physical prototyping by allowing designers to work out kinks in a virtual space before building costly real-world prototypes. When construction companies use digital twin technology for predictive maintenance, they can reduce loss due to downtime and malfunctioning equipment.
How AI is Transforming Use Cases for Digital Twin Tech in Construction
The advent of artificial intelligence has proven to be a transformative moment in both the capabilities and the proliferation of digital twin technologies. AI and its capabilities accentuate those of digital twins, allowing their combined efforts to offer even more impactful benefits to businesses across sectors. Because artificial intelligence can process such large amounts of data so quickly, digital twins that use AI can become more advanced and accurate than ever before.
The combined power of the spatial computing technology of digital twins with artificial intelligence has paved the way for even more advanced, customized use cases in the construction industry. Now, the utility of digital twins no longer stops with individual machines. Enterprises can use digital twins to simulate entire systems and supply chains, which is particularly useful for industries like construction, which feature so many complex and disparate moving parts.
For example, digital twins can enable better lifecycle planning in construction. With a new tool known as the “inception twin,” it is now possible to create digital twins before their real-world counterparts. As a result, digital twin technology is now valuable for construction leaders through every step of a project’s lifecycle — from ideation and blueprinting to production and long-term maintenance. Digital twins can allow construction teams to simulate potential challenges to the build, such as inclement weather or simple wear and tear over time, which can help them create more resilient systems.
Another key function that digital twins will allow in the construction industry is predictive maintenance. When sensors are affixed to the real-life counterparts of the digital twin, they can feed information to the user on the virtual platform. With this insight, users can make better decisions about when they need to replace certain components, perform repairs before machines break, and ensure that regular maintenance occurs according to schedule. This can lead to better efficiency and longevity for machines and systems.
Digital twin technology has also proven influential in reshaping collaboration in the construction industry. Because digital twins are accessed via the metaverse, this means that anyone anywhere in the world can access these tools — often requiring no special hardware, such as a VR headset. Many digital twins can now be accessed from a simple mobile phone. In the construction industry, this can allow everyone, including architects, engineers, contractors, and clients, to work from a shared and interactive model, which improves communication and reduces errors.
Indeed, construction leaders who wish to stay on the cutting edge of the industry should embrace the transformation that will be offered by digital twin technology. Digital twins are paving the way for a future of construction that is more connected and data-driven. We are experiencing a transformation in how large-scale construction projects will be planned, built, and maintained, and the technological innovators are those who will come out on top.
