Trimble Construction

Why BIM Needs Digital Twins 8 ASSET INSIGHT: Digital twins are, first and foremost, analytical tools. These simulations help make sense of raw data by visualizing the status, working condition, and position of physical assets. This offers unprecedented insight into the condition of field investments and helps inform future operations. TEAM CONNECTIVITY: Historically, construction phases tend to work in isolation. Disparate processes, separate goals, and vast skill gaps make project- wide collaboration unrealistic. Digital twins offer a better way — a visual common ground that offers invaluable cohesion through which construction phases can communicate more effectively. Component dimensions, model details, working condition, and more can be embedded into content-enabled models. OPTIMIZIED FABRICATION: Having the most up-to-date product information embedded into content-enabled models allows for "digital twin builds" — the quickest, most efficient, and most accurate fabrication possible. This reduces errors and rework, along with the time and money they waste. And, on-site scheduling is enhanced through real just-in-time production and delivery of fabricated components. ONGOING SUPPORT: When the project is complete, digital twins can be handed over to the client to help support ongoing structural enhancements. For example, if a client is interested in the environmental impact of their structure, a digital twin can track energy demand, CO2 emissions, and indoor air quality to help shape future green initiatives. A digital twin can be a value-added asset for clients looking to leverage data in future optimization projects. Common procedural challenges that can be mitigated through effective digital twin and BIM integration include:

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