Is your energy consumption optimized and when does your digital meter need to be serviced? Are all HVAC installations in the building running smoothly and how would they perform in a heatwave? How would a change in the direction of traffic affect parking behavior in the city? Three scenarios, one answer: ask the digital twin. A virtual ‘digital twin’ gives you a view of physical assets, machines, installations and processes from a distance, in real time. A 360° view of (and insight into) today’s situation, while also unlocking the future.
What is a digital twin?
A digital twin is a virtual copy of an ‘object’ from the real world that is in continuous real-time connection with the physical object via sensors and automation. This connectivity is what differentiates a digital twin from a simulator: by collecting these live data, linking them to and bundling them with data from other information sources – ERP system, the internet, temperature, geodata etc. – you create a dynamic, virtual model of the physical environment that connects all objects, people, processes and places involved.
If you then apply artificial intelligence and analytics, raw data become live insights. With possibilities for predictive analytics and simulations too. This not only gives you an understanding of how environments work today, but also what could happen in the future. If action is needed, you can instantly take the right measures.
With a digital twin, you not only gain an understanding of how your environment works today, but you can also run simulations and make future predictions.
A digital twin: what are the benefits?
Car manufacturers, aircraft manufactures, construction companies, utility companies and network operators, cities and municipalities, they are all making more and more use of digital twins – from simple devices such as a thermometer to highly complex installations such as a smart grid.
The benefits? Optimization, in a wide variety of ways:
- easier, faster development of new products;
- optimization of products, systems and processes;
- improved service provision;
- increased operational efficiency;
- cost reduction (reduced stock management, maintenance, supply, services etc. costs);
- increased customer satisfaction;
- development of new business models;
- increased security and compliance;
- and much more.
