The Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) sectors are three industries which directly cater to global infrastructure. Companies in the governmental or private sector of these industries must ensure that any capital projects undertaken adhere to industry standards and safeguard the public. One of the most advanced technologies used by companies for this purpose includes digital twins. Although people tend to think that digital twins are restricted to the manufacturing industry, it is now a technology that has expanded its powers to building skyscrapers and taking up large-scale projects, such as building sustainable cities.
A digital twin refers to a virtual representation that is meant to reflect a real physical object. This is used to run simulations, letting managers assess the pros and cons of building the actual thing in question before constructing it and deploying it. In other words, manufacturers can test out the behaviour of assets through a computer program that inserts actual data gathered by the Internet of Things (IoT) sensors fixed to the real object as inputs. Based on this, the technology will predict or simulate how the input data will affect the physical object. As a result, managers can clarify and fix all issues in advance before making the final product. This helps ensure that the object constructed is feasible in the long term.
In the context of infrastructure, digital twins embody virtual replicas of buildings, roads, railroad networks, parks and any other physical asset in the city. Hence, utilising the power of digital twins helps ensure all physical infrastructure in cities is durable and safe for its inhabitants in different situations. This article will assess how the power of digital twins is harnessed in global infrastructure.
How Exactly Do Digital Twins Create Value in Global Infrastructure?
A country’s roads, waterways, bridges, and pipelines may require maintenance and repairs to ensure public safety. Not only will digital twins help managers monitor such infrastructure, but here are four other exact ways digital twins can create value in global infrastructure:
Helps Asset Companies to Avoid Wasting Resources:
Traditionally, humans estimate how much material or resources are needed when it comes to constructing an asset. While sometimes, depending on the human’s expertise, they can provide an accurate amount, there have been situations where either more or fewer resources have been ordered. This is a waste financially and as well as in terms of resources. With digital twins, however, managers can get accurate information on the amount of material required to construct the infrastructure. It also goes a step further by considering a company’s financial records, suggesting which parts of infrastructure need to be prioritised during its production process.
Connects Everything and Everyone
Digital twin relies on data that it draws from other advanced technologies fixed into their infrastructure. This includes Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), IoT sensors, AR and VR, and so much more. The great thing about digital twins is their ability to centralise all types of information, using it to provide the most accurate information and insights. This data is moreover accessible to any department in a company involved in the infrastructure project with advanced security measures in place for data protection. Hence, any decision maker can easily access the detailed reports that are generated to make informed decisions.
Remote Working
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, companies had to adapt to a new normal whereby procedures needed to be in place to ensure remoting working was possible. Digital twins give asset companies a digital infrastructure to work and monitor their physical assets and share data easily. Regardless of where asset managers are located, digital twins can view the entire city whilst also focusing on specific aspects – such as the road network infrastructure. The system will warn managers of any impending risks that require maintenance, letting companies prevent it from occurring by deploying its people to fix them as soon as possible. This also means the manual task of physically checking on assets daily is no longer required. Furthermore, any natural disasters that may affect infrastructure can also be detected, allowing managers to control the collateral damage that may otherwise have occurred.
Asset Governing Bodies Can Reduce Their Carbon Foot Print
It is no surprise that the utility and construction industries are two sectors that have the highest carbon footprint. According to Steve Cockerell from Bentley Systems, around 70% of the world’s emissions can be traced to infrastructure. This is due to the amount of carbon dioxide that is released in the air, which increases with vehicles being ingested on the road for long periods. In other words, fewer emissions are produced into the atmosphere if traffic is reduced. Through the digital twin technology, road managers can find ways to improve the traffic flow without having to test it first and consider whether it is a success or an error. Simply try various situations through the digital platform, and execute it when the system guarantees that it does in fact improve the traffic flow.
Utilise Cerexio’s Digital Twin Technology System or its Digital Twin Infused Infrastructure and Risk Management Platform
Cerexio has infused advanced technologies, including digital twins, in its Infrastructure and Risk Management Platform to cater to the demands of the infrastructure industry. This platform is exclusively developed to enable a total investment modelling system for infrastructure decision-makers. The platform can handle the organisation, manage, and track risks, costs and performance of over 30,000 assets. This allows investors or even an asset company’s finance team to budget their finances according to the infrastructure needed. One of the most successful clients Cerexio has had with this platform includes a city council in Australia, which helped them gain the community’s trust. This solution has also proved to help clients save their infrastructure capital investment and maintenance costs by 10% or more.
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Time To Create Value in the Global Infrastructure In The Most Efficient Manner
Are you a public or private asset manager focusing on creating a sustainable global infrastructure? Unlock the power of digital twins and utilise the advantages offered by Cerexio’s Infrastructure and Risk Management Platform, exclusively built to meet your infrastructure goals. Unlike any other field focusing on profit maximisation, constructing quality infrastructure and maintaining it is a matter of public safety. Invest the hard-earned taxpayer’s money on advanced technologies, which are guaranteed to help your assets be more robust, reliable and function in the long term by integrating digital twin to your operations.
