Technology

Digital Twin Technology: Living Models of Buildings

Creating digital copies of buildings through real-time data streams and simulation models — a revolution in operations and maintenance processes.

A digital twin refers to a virtual copy of all the components, systems, and dynamic behavior of a physical building. Unlike a static BIM model, however, a digital twin exchanges data in real time: temperature, humidity, energy consumption, and user-mobility data from sensors continuously update the virtual model.

REACTO is conducting comprehensive R&D work to bring digital twin technology into the operations and maintenance (O&M) phase of its projects. The platform we have developed combines a building's BIM model (Autodesk Revit / Rhino.Inside) with real-time IoT data, providing facility managers with a control panel that displays the instantaneous status of each of the building's systems.

The digital twin model also forms the foundation of predictive maintenance strategies. By analyzing the vibration and temperature data of an air-handling unit, a potential failure can be detected 72 hours before it occurs. In this way, emergency breakdowns are reduced by 80% while maintenance costs are also optimized.