Digital twin
What is a digital twin
A digital twin is a digital copy of a machine, a building or a process that moves along with what really happens. Not a drawing and not a dashboard, but both at once, connected by data. This is what the term means and what it is not.
The definition
The Digital Twin Consortium fixed the definition in December 2020: a virtual representation of real-world entities and processes, synchronised at a specified frequency and fidelity. That last part is the core. A twin is only a twin if it is refreshed, and you have decided beforehand how often and how precisely.
Where it comes from
Michael Grieves presented the idea in 2002 at the University of Michigan, in a course on product lifecycle management. His model has three parts: the physical product in real space, the virtual product in virtual space, and the connection of data and information between the two. In 2014 he worked it out in a white paper, and from that year manufacturers adopted the term.
What it is not
Much of what is called a digital twin is not one.
- A 3D model without live data is a scale model. Nice to walk through, but it does not know what is happening now.
- A dashboard without a model is a dashboard. It shows numbers, but not where they belong in the space and the process.
- A twin has both: a model of the object, the data of the object, and the connection that keeps them together.
What you do with it
The ISO standard for digital twins in manufacturing, ISO 23247, describes what a twin is for: it follows the real object by constantly updating operational and environmental data, and helps detect anomalies. The applications follow from that: real-time control, maintenance before something breaks, adjusting during the process, and analysis over a longer period.
Three questions before you start
You build a twin for a decision, not for the picture.
- Which decision do you want to make better? That determines what goes into the model and what does not.
- Which data do you already have, and where does it come from? A PLC, a sensor, a schedule, an ERP.
- How often must the twin refresh? Every second for a machine, every day for a building. That difference drives the cost.
Frequently asked questions
Is a BIM model a digital twin?
No, not by itself. A BIM model describes how a building was designed and built. It becomes a twin when live data from the building is attached, such as climate, consumption or occupancy, and the model is updated with it.
Do I need 3D?
Not always. For a production line a diagram with live status is often enough. 3D helps when people need to walk through the space, for example with a new build or an extension.
What is the difference with a dashboard?
A dashboard shows numbers. A twin shows those numbers in the place and the process they belong to, and can run scenarios with them. A dashboard is often one part of a twin.
Sources
Where every figure on this page comes from.
Our approach
From advice to management, with one partner
The same rhythm for every project.
Advice
We start with a conversation, not with code. First clarity on what you need and what you do not.
Build
We build and integrate to measure, with technology that fits you. You own your data and your code.
Manage
We stay involved: monitoring, adjusting and growing with your business.
Which decision do you want to make better?
In one conversation we look at whether a twin helps with that, and how small you can start.
Call 085 083 5775A 30-minute intake