Navigating the Complexity of Digital Twins and BIM

Greg Smith, Director of BIM/VDC , Yates Construction

As the VDC leader for Yates Construction, Greg and his team of outstanding VDC professionals spearhead the effort to apply technology and lean processes to their construction projects. With over 30 years of technology experience in the Architecture/Engineering/Construction industry, his focus is on helping project teams achieve quality and efficiency in the building process.  Greg has been an adjunct professor at Washington State University, teaching BIM and VDC courses, and has guest lectured at many other universities and industry events.

Through this article, Smith emphasizes the evolving definition and role of digital twins and BIM in construction, focusing on the integration of data throughout a project's lifecycle and the challenges of ensuring accurate, accessible, and timely information for all stakeholders.

You’ve heard the buzz…everyone wants to deliver a “Digital Twin.”  The challenge then becomes, what is a digital twin?  Seems like every software vendor out there has their own definition.  Certainly, all my construction colleagues have our definition or at least a vision of what a digital twin represents. 

Let’s start with the definition of BIM or Building Information Model.  According to the National Institute of Building Sciences, A BIM is “a shared digital representation of the physical and functional characteristics of a built environment asset.”  Although this is but one definition of BIM.  Do an internet search for “BIM definition,” and you will come up with quite a list of choices.

Same with Digital Twin.  Search, and you come up with a variety of results.  Wikipedia suggests the definition of a Digital Twin is “a digital model of an intended or actual real-world physical product, system, or process (a physical twin) that serves as a digital counterpart of it for purposes such as simulation, integration, testing, monitoring, and maintenance.” Sounds very similar to the definition of BIM.  Reading through some of the discussions online, some are treating a BIM and a digital twin as separate and distinct.  Is that the case?  Or is it all about the continuum of data as we move from concept to design, through construction, and into building operations?

And just what the heck does that mean to the project manager in the field trying to deliver the construction project to the owner?  Or, more importantly, what does it mean to the building owner that is paying for it all?

Our end goal is to get the right data to the right person at the right time.  In design, we are creating 3-dimensional models to represent the intent of the architects and engineers.  Each discipline model, whether it be an architectural model, structural design model, mechanical or electrical design model, is combined (a federated model) to show generally what the facility will look like when it is built.

“As much as we can try to simplify the data streams with a singular common data environment, or at least a limited number of common data environments, we must consider the people side of the equation”

In construction, we add to or replace the design models with discipline-specific trade contractor models that have a higher level of detail.  A structural design model may only show columns and beams, whereas the structural construction model will show column base plates with anchor bolt holes located.  Gusset plates and other connections are detailed out to accurately locate the anchors that will be embedded in the concrete footing.  The models go from generally geometrically accurate to explicitly geometrically accurate.

Along with the geometric accuracy, the models include a vast amount of data associated with the model objects.  Mechanical equipment may include some operating parameters, warranty information, and maintenance schedules.  However, much of this data lives outside of the models as well in operations and maintenance manuals and another trade contractor “submittals”. All of this information is usually housed in the general contractor’s common data environment (CDE).  These days, the CDE is a cloud-based platform.  The specifications and other design information are typically located somewhere other than the models, perhaps in a designer “CDE.”  If that doesn’t sound confusing enough, many of our projects end up with multiple CDEs that may or may not talk to one another. 

As much as we can try to simplify the data streams with a singular common data environment, or at least a limited number of common data environments, we must consider the people side of the equation.  Throw in the random project manager who still stores project information on the hard drive of their computer.  We can offer guidance and train people on the proper use of the tools, but it is up to them to use the tools in the manner they are to be used.

We must discuss the software vendors, all trying to sell you their version of a “digital twin.”  To me, a digital twin is not simply one piece of software that includes a 360 photo or a lidar point cloud with some cool way to attach metadata to mechanical equipment.  Rather, it is that 3-dimensional “federated” model with all of the data attached, including the 360 photos, lidar point clouds, specifications, shop drawings, and operations and maintenance manuals, including operations simulations and monitoring, etc etc., etc.  All of the information we need to design, build, and operate a facility.  Delivering the right data to the right person at the right time.  What they need, when they need it.  To my knowledge, there is not one singular software application that can do all of this in a seamless, easy-to-manage, and easy-to-use way.

Finally, it takes more than just software alone to make this happen.  You must have a data strategy specified at the beginning of the project and followed throughout to ensure the data is being collected in a way that facilitates its use throughout the lifecycle of the project.  Another people challenge is to be sure.

With the advent of artificial intelligence (AI), we have a whole host of new tools available to help us gather, sort, analyze, and report on design and construction data.  Maybe a blend of AI technologies and BIM technologies will allow building owners to “prompt” for the information they need when they need it.  We’re a little way off from that now, but the future is quickly approaching.  Exciting times!