Session

Track: Strategy and Business Value

Becoming Digital Twin Ready - An Evolution Strategy
David Butts

With the dramatic changes in the design community, it's time to evaluate where building information modeling (BIM) has brought us and begin to examine the next generation of digital design and delivery.

The need to understand the impact on people, process, and technology has taken on a higher sense of urgency with concerns about risings costs of labor, environment impacts, and budgetary constraints.

In this session, we will compare traditional CAD workflows and documentation to prepare a "digital delivery” standard that fits the requirements of a BIM project. We then will review an example of a current technology platform and how it can be leveraged to improve the designer/contractor/owner relationship.

Once the platform is defined, we will learn how to apply and manage content standards that meet digital twin requirements. The session will close by reviewing workflows for future projects to help us meet this goal.

Future of Work via Digital Twins Enhanced by Augmented Reality and Mobile Robotics
Igor Starkov

The convergence of digital twins, augmented reality (AR), and mobile robotics represents a transformative shift in workplace dynamics, offering unprecedented opportunities to enhance operational efficiency, safety, and adaptability across various industries.

Digital twins are virtual replicas of physical entities, processes, or systems that can be used for simulation, analysis, and control. In the context of facility management (FM), digital twins serve as dynamic, up-to-date models that provide a comprehensive overview of a facility’s physical and functional characteristics. By continuously syncing with real-world data collected through sensors and other IoT devices, digital twins allow for real-time monitoring, predictive maintenance, and more efficient resource management.

Augmented reality enhances digital twins by overlaying digital information directly onto a user’s field of view, providing a visually intuitive platform to interact with complex data. In FM, AR can project detailed information about equipment status, maintenance histories, and operational guidelines onto the actual machinery. This capability not only speeds up decision-making processes but also enhances the accuracy and safety of maintenance and operational tasks by providing contextual information precisely when and where it is needed.

Mobile robotics introduce autonomous or remotely controlled robots capable of performing a variety of tasks traditionally done by humans, from routine inspections and cleaning to complex repair work. Robots equipped with cameras, sensors, and other diagnostic tools can navigate facilities independently or be guided via AR interfaces to pinpoint areas needing attention. The integration of mobile robots into digital twin frameworks extends the reach and efficiency of FM teams, allowing for continuous operation and monitoring, especially in environments that are hazardous or inaccessible to humans.

The integration of digital twins, AR, and mobile robotics transforms traditional facility management into a highly efficient, proactive operation. This integration reduces downtime and operational costs and significantly boosts productivity and worker safety.

The combined use of digital twins, augmented reality, and mobile robotics offers a robust solution for future-proofing facilities and reshaping the future of work. By enhancing the precision, safety, and efficiency of FM practices, these technologies not only optimize current operations but also pave the way for new levels of innovation in workplace management and design.

Enhancing Sustainability and Energy Conservation Through Digital Twin Technology
Raj Setty

In the evolving landscape of building management, transitioning from traditional systems of record to systems of insight has become crucial for sustained operational effectiveness and resilience.

This session explores the innovative application of digital twin technology from the owner’s and operator’s perspectives, underscoring its pivotal role in advancing sustainability and energy conservation within building operations.

Digital twins serve as a sophisticated tool that integrates four main data streams — hard assets, asset cutsheets, dynamic operational data, and institutional knowledge — into a unified middleware dashboard. Digital twins are 3D representations of the real-world asset and are the pathway for continued sustainability.

This integration not only simplifies the management of building data but also enhances the decision-making processes, allowing for more accurate virtual inspections and proactive maintenance strategies. By replicating physical assets in a virtual environment, digital twins enable operators to perform detailed analyses and simulations, which helps in pinpointing inefficiencies and predicting future performance under various scenarios.

This presentation will delve into the methodologies for transforming a building information model (BIM) into a navigable, asset-level digital twin. It will outline the process of data aggregation, labeling, and algorithm application, which are crucial for enhancing operational and energy efficiencies tailored to specific assets. The outcome is a streamlined, intuitive interface that not only promotes sustainability but also supports the building’s long-term viability and compliance with evolving environmental standards.