Analysis
What makes
a successful
digital twin?
T
hough realistic digital representations
of physical assets are widespread,
what distinguishes a digital twin from
any other digital model is its connection to a
physical asset – or "twin".
In years to come, it's hoped that the use
of digital twins in tandem with Internet
of Things technology – such as sensors,
advanced data analytics, data-driven manu-
facturing and the digital economy – will
enable more accurate and efficient asset
construction and management, lower build-
ing costs and ultimately facilitate better asset
performance over a longer lifespan.
According to Mark Enzer, director of the
Centre for Digital Built Britain – a partner-
ship between the Department of Business,
Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and the
University of Cambridge – best-in-class digi-
tal twins are able to harness the wealth of
data being created by digital construction,
high performing assets, smart cities, the digi-
tal economy and connected citizens.
As such, the Centre for Digital Built
Britain seeks to understand how a digital
approach to better design, build, operate,
and integrate the built environment, fuelled
by this data, can span and support the likes
of the infrastructure, construction and utili-
ties sectors.
"When it comes to a digital twin, it really
is just an embodiment of an information
value chain," Enzer told Utility Week WWT's
Smart Water Conference. "It's a two-way con-
nection between physical and digital. We
shouldn't go building digital twins because
they're fun, or we can, they must have
purpose."
Building a digital twin
Enzer outlined four key phases in the crea-
tion of digital twins.
First, he highlighted that a "design" phase
