Around the world, much of essential infrastructure is reaching or surpassing its intended design life, Power of Digital Twins while cities grow and put more pressure on already strained systems. The conventional approach, based on static drawings and fragmented data, is no longer adequate. Digital twin technology is emerging as a powerful tool for cities to use real-world data and intelligent digital models to make better, quicker decisions.
Digital twin technology is one of the more exciting advances that will help address some of these complex challenges. Through building dynamic, data-rich virtual replicas of physical things (i.e., digital twins), cities, engineers and construction companies can use digital data to plan more intelligently, build more effectively and manage urban infrastructure throughout its lifecycle. Trimble’s digital twin technology is an integral part of continuously connecting physical and digital environments to achieve successful outcomes for urban infrastructure projects.
Traditional infrastructure planning has relied on separate models and drawings that quickly go out of date as projects change. Often, once construction begins, many 3D models don’t match the real-world building elements even when they’re put into a BIM system like Tekla.
Digital twins change that entire notion. It relies on the use of surveys, laser/optical scanning and connections to construction equipment, as well as various sensors in the field and from construction personnel to represent the real-world environment dynamically (instead of a simple representation as a still photograph). Thus, while the actual asset evolves as it is completed, the digital model also evolves along with it. This creates an accurate and up-to-date representation of what is physically happening during the design, construction and operation phases of the asset.
The change in urban infrastructure has greatly impacted roadways, bridges, utilities and transit systems, as they are all part of a dense network of related infrastructure. By using digital twins, we can gain a clearer picture of how infrastructure works together, reducing the unknowns and allowing better decisions to be made at all levels of the process.
Using Trimble’s geospatial and data-capture technologies, project teams can create precise digital twins of existing conditions early in the planning process. High-precision survey data and terrain models are combined into a single environment providing planners a complete view of what exists below and above the site. This approach has enabled teams on complex roadway and bridge projects to identify existing utilities and structures ahead of construction. Virtually identifying and addressing conflicts reduces redesign and delays and improves cost certainty. Digital twins also enable teams to test alternative design scenarios such as alignments, staging or traffic impacts prior to committing resources in the field.
Construction sites have always been subject to change design changes, site conditions and multiple stakeholders work in parallel. Syncing digital information with reality has always been a challenge.
Trimble’s digital twin technology helps bridge this gap by ensuring that digital models match real-world conditions. Rather than relying on information that quickly becomes outdated, teams work with scalable digital views that reflect field progress as the project moves forward.
When it comes to large highways, digital designs were historically linked to earthmoving machines via Trimble machine control systems. As the model is updated, machines update themselves, ensuring grading and alignment work is done accurately the first time around. This eliminates rework, improves productivity and increases safety on site.
The value of digital twins does not end with project completion. Rather, some of the best value arises during operations and maintenance when owners face the challenge of ensuring long-term performance, safety and reliability. Handover documents and drawings are handed over to owners; they quickly become out-of-date as assets age or are modified. An owner of a digital twin built with Trimble technologies inherits a living digital asset that captures accurate as-built conditions and retains important historical data from the design and construction phase.
This has been particularly valuable for increasingly complex and large-scale infrastructure projects. For example, on the Chenab Bridge, the world’s tallest railway arch bridge, Trimble Tekla Structures was used to build highly detailed constructible models during the design and construction phases that captured geometry, connections, fabrication details and more, creating a solid digital foundation. This high-fidelity digital model can also be used beyond construction as a long-term resource to help with inspection and structural assessment.
Digital twin technology is transforming the way that cities plan, construct and operate their infrastructure by connecting accurate real-world data to intelligent digital models to facilitate improved decision-making throughout the asset lifecycle.
Trimble’s digital twin solutions unlock value through the integration of precise capture, constructible modelling and connected workflows. Whether it’s the world’s tallest bridge, Chenab Bridge, or landmark models like the Statue of Unity, or major corridors such as the Dwarka Expressway, Trimble technologies have delivered results during construction and beyond.
With the pressure on cities increasing, digital twins are not just a nice-to-have but a must-have to deliver smarter, more resilient and more sustainable cities for tomorrow.
Mr. Harsh Pareek, Vice President, Direct Sales, Asia-Pacific at Trimble
