Boosting BIM Adoption with Digital Twin Technology: A Roadmap for Success

Boosting BIM Adoption with Digital Twin Technology: A Roadmap for Success

Since the 'maturity wedge' was published in 2008 and the 2011 Government mandate, Building Information Modeling (BIM) has become a game-changer in the AEC industry, revolutionising how construction projects are designed, planned, and executed.

BIM offers the visualisation of projects, fast creation of alternative designs, automatic examination of model reliability, report production and performance forecasting. Yet despite the numerous benefits of BIM, its adoption has and remains gradual, and while the era of 2D CAD has passed, many companies still rely on traditional methods.

One solution that will further bolster BIM adoption is the integration of BIM with digital twin technology.

This integration will unlock a new level of efficiency and innovation in the industry. With the ability to create a digital copy of a physical asset, stakeholders can gain immediate insight into how an asset will look and behave, resulting in early detection of potential problems. BIM and digital twins are useful tools for construction professionals, reducing expenses, improving quality, and expediting project delivery with greater precision. Additionally, this powerful combination offers a comprehensive perspective of a building's lifecycle, covering everything from design to operation. In the following sections, we will delve deeper into the benefits of this integration and provide practical tips for successful adoption.

Thanks to the convenience of technology (Google in particular), we've come to expect quick answers to our questions. This is especially true when it comes to gathering environmental data, such as EPDs and EIAs, which have become increasingly important in recent years. To meet this demand, BIM and digital twins provide architects, developers, and asset owners with straightforward and immediate access to their building's information and carbon-related data. With these technologies in place, data is organised and readily available, making it easier to make informed decisions and improve sustainability efforts.

Moreover, building safety regulations have become more stringent after the Grenfell Tower disaster. For instance, the Building Safety Act now mandates the creation of a digital Golden Thread that contains all relevant data about a building. Through the use of BIM and a digital twin, the "Accountable Person" can ensure that their digital Golden Thread is up-to-date and accurate. This integration ultimately leads to substantial improvements in building safety, as well as more efficient maintenance and management of buildings.

A Roadmap for Success

To maximise project efficiency, teams need to have a solid data strategy in place. From there, it's recommended that they begin incorporating BIM and Digital Twin technologies as early on in the project as possible. By doing so, they can take advantage of the full potential of BIM objects and models to power the Digital Twin and achieve optimal results.

Once the Digital Twin is in place, project teams can use it to simulate and optimise their building's design and construction, identify potential issues/risks and explore/trail alternative solutions. By doing so, they can reduce costs, heighten collaboration across all construction parties, improve efficiency, and enhance the overall quality of the project.

Finally, following handover, asset owners and their operational teams should establish a process for ongoing maintenance and updates to the BIM model and Digital Twin to ensure that it remains an accurate and up-to-date representation of the physical asset.

In conclusion, the integration of BIM with digital twin technology is a game-changer for the AEC industry. It provides an efficient and innovative way of designing, planning, and executing projects. Asset owners and their teams gain real-time insight into how their building performs, leading to substantial improvements in building safety, maintenance and management. To maximise the benefits of this integration, it's important to have a solid data strategy, incorporate BIM and Digital Twin technologies as early on in the project as possible, and establish a process for ongoing maintenance and updates. The future of construction lies in the seamless integration of these technologies, and critical players who embrace them early on will have a significant competitive advantage.

With Twinview, you can effortlessly define and monitor progress against your project's Exchange Information Requirements and build your Asset Information Requirements directly into our platform. Plus, you can easily share and exchange real-time data with stakeholders like architects, contractors, engineers and facility managers. Book a demo today and see how Twinview can help you achieve your goals and stay ahead of the competition.