What Is a Digital Twin in Construction?
A digital twin is a digital representation of a specific physical asset or process that is connected to its real-world counterpart through data. In construction, it can represent a building, bridge, tunnel, road network, industrial facility or individual building system.
The digital representation may combine 3D geometry, technical specifications, equipment details, sensor measurements, inspection records and operational data. Depending on the application, these inputs can be used to monitor current conditions, analyse performance, simulate possible scenarios and support maintenance planning.
For example, a digital twin of a commercial building can combine its architectural and structural models with information about heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems, electricity consumption, indoor temperatures, water usage and equipment status. Facility managers can use this information to identify abnormal operating patterns, investigate faults and assess whether building systems are performing as expected.
