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UTILITY WEEK | APRIL 2022 | 37 revolves around implementing best practice in information management and data gath- ering techniques in order to create "better- performing" assets and infrastructure. During a subsequent "build" phase, it's important to exploit new and emerging digi- tal construction, information, management and manufacturing technologies to improve safety, quality and production during the building process. When it comes to "operation", Enzer explained that e• ective information manage- ment is needed to transform the performance of the built environment and the services delivered. Finally, during the "integrate" phase, understanding how the built environment can improve citizens' quality of life, and then using information to continually drive design of social and economic infrastructure and services is crucial. Enabling better decision-making A central pillar of this work is e• ective infor- mation management throughout building projects, and its placement among people, processes and technology. "Information should be at the heart," Enzer explained. "It's all about enabling people to use information to make better decisions, to improve and connect processes, and to apply and integrate technology more wisely," he said. Therefore, the fundamental aim of apply- ing digital twins to the built environment should be getting digital assets "talking" rather than simply creating "one massive model of everything". In essence, national digital twin pro- grammes must be purpose-driven and focused on the desired outcomes for a pro- ject, rooted in existing systems and guided by strong values. Guiding principles Our built environment is a "system of sys- tems" comprising economic, social and natural infrastructure which, if connected together, can aid understanding and facili- tate more targeted and e• ective interven- tion when needed – especially important for the utilities sector, whose assets require intervention and … exibility more than most industries. Therefore a central component of suc- cessfully harnessing digital twins to achieve cross-sector, or industry-wide, goals is estab- lishing a common language so that di• er- ent assets can "speak to each other", share reference data and establish common data models. Enzer said that while human and organi- sational factors present comparable chal- lenges to technical obstacles in rolling out networks of digital twins, Digital Built Brit- ain has implemented the Gemini Principles when joining digital twins together. The Gemini Principles report was pub- lished by the Centre for Digital Built Brit- ain in December 2018 to foster an aligned approach to information management across the built environment – establishing agreed de' nitions and principles to make it easier to share data. Enshrined in these values is the notion that all digital twins must have clear pur- pose, must be trustworthy and must function e• ectively. These principles are described as "the conscience of the information management framework and the national digital twin" and seek to ensure that strong founding val- ues and the public good continue to steer digital twin projects. Stuart Stone, editor, Utility Week Innovate The Centre for Digital Built Britain's Mark Enzer outlines the importance of establishing an underlying purpose for digital twin projects and getting assets 'talking' rather than creating a 'massive model of everything'. With thanks to our Smart Water Conference sponsor