Posted by Cadalyst—The AEC industry has often lagged behind manufacturing and process industries in implementing 3D design and other digital technologies, but digital twin technology may be gaining traction in construction at a brisker pace than other technologies. AMC Bridge President Igor Tsinman shared his vision of the digital twins in the AEC industry.
“In this industry, the idea of digital twins has more resonance and intuitive understanding than in discrete manufacturing,” said Igor Tsinman. While discrete manufacturing and mass-production processes may have limited uses for digital twins, “in construction and infrastructure, it makes perfect sense.”
Digital twins offer particular value in buildings and plants with operational elements such as pumps and ventilation systems, noted Tsinman. He cited examples of creating digital twins for industrial and petrochemical facilities, combining data from multiple sources to model facilities and simulate operations after construction. Such efforts often combine 3D scanned point-cloud data with photorealistic visualizations, along with process and instrumentation diagram (PNID) data and internet of things (IoT) data from pumps and sensors to produce digital models capable of simulating various operations. “It’s combining different aspects of the real world to produce a digital representation of that world and use the information in making decisions,” such as maintenance and replacement of equipment, said Tsinman.
As an example of practical implementation, AMC Bridge used a point-cloud library (PCL) tool to enhance IMAGINiT’s scan-to-BIM software for client IMAGINiT Technologies. On another project, AMC Bridge provided data interoperability solutions between Autodesk Revit and a product lifecycle management (PLM) system for Consolidated Contractors Company.
In reviewing highlights from the webinars and project experiences, Tsinman said digital twins are in a key stage of providing value in multiple industries. “I think we are over the hype with digital twin technology,” said Tsinman. “We are now in real implementation.” He stressed the need for collaboration among various disciplines, using an incremental approach to leverage multiple tools and data sources. “There are a lot of pieces to be put into place, like a puzzle.”
Check the full article in Cadalyst.
