Several companies are now becoming leaders in the Digital Twin Technology sector, as they have seen its potential in multiple fields. For instance, the Microsoft Corporation is currently a company with the highest revenue derived from this emerging technology. The Washington-based tech giant has launched in 2018 “Azure Digital Twins,” powered by query APIs. It allows users to model environments of any type with an open modeling language which is connected to IoT devices. Microsoft has even taken a step further, announcing they will pair up with Bentley Systems to expand their data processing and allow city planners and architects to access a great set of data and mapping.
A significant example of the value in utilizing these systems can be seen with Italferr. This Italian railway company has commissioned the Bentley Digital Twin system to replace the 1,182-meter Morandi Bridge, which has once collapsed in 2018. The bridge’s design had to go along with its construction and testing since the Italian railway required the project to be built as soon as possible to relieve the train congestion of the city; staying on schedule was crucial.
A Digital Twin of the viaduct to be tested for simulations was built with Bentley’s building information modeling system. During construction, a unified, open data environment was used to promote connectivity and collaboration with all of the teams involved in the project. This provided the team with full access to real-time information. Bentley’s Digital Model helped Italferr create templates for the design, construction, and operations. Project decisions were then expedited, and with specific criteria, costs were reduced. The accuracy for such a delicate piece of engineering helped enhance the overall workflow of the project.
So, why are Digital Twins an essential tool for the future of AEC industries? It’s predicted that the market for this technology will exponentially grow, and many sectors will benefit from the connectivity and shared information Digital Twins can create. Companies will understand where it is best to install certain facilities and MEP on a building, emergency scenarios will be run more efficiently online, and urban sprawl will be predicted and evaluated. Clients are demanding more access to the process behind the design of buildings and cities, and this technology can be the solution to satisfy better all the parties involved in the planning process.