Virtual twin models for infrastructure aren’t just useful for predicting failures or reducing downtime, UNSW says, they also serve as digital repositories of a company’s knowledge.
Around 29% of the world’s manufacturers have implemented digital twin technology, and it’s widely used by construction companies to design and build phases of a structure to uncover issues before they develop and become costly.
Unlike static simulations or 3D models, they are constantly updated by live data collected from the physical asset they represent. This real-time feedback allows engineers to track performance, predict faults, and plan for short and long-term maintenance with better accuracy.
However, Professor Zhongxiao Peng of the Tribology and Machine Condition Monitoring Research Group at UNSW says a good digital twin needs both data and strong fundamental knowledge of how the system works.
At the University’s School of Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering, A/Prof. Pietro Borghesani says one of the biggest advantages for companies is that you can embed the expertise of an experienced engineer into the digital twin. In that way, the expertise doesn’t walk out the door when they leave the organisation.
“This is especially appealing for medium-sized firms, which often struggle to recruit or retain highly specialised staff,” he explained.
A well-designed digital twin acts as both a performance monitor and a training tool for the next generation of engineers, according to A/Prof. Borghesani, who says digital twins are emerging as a key tool.
About the author
Desi Corbett
Desi is the Editor of Concrete in Australia, at the helm since December 2013, and our weekly news writer since 2016. Focused on concrete and construction for more than 11 years, her expertise in this field forms part of a journalism career spanning three decades. To get in touch please email desi@corbettcomms.com