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6/3/24, 3:55 PM The big value of infrastructure digital twins is finally here - Construction Week Online
Whether in design, construction, or asset operations, engineering firms and owner-
operators are facing resource constraints. Project demand is outpacing the number of
people available to do the work, driving the sectors to transform and change how work
gets done. Adopting digital twin-powered workflows can boost productivity, increase
throughput, and deliver better results. Infrastructure digital twins are becoming critical
enablers of the design, construction, and operation of assets.

Digital twin-powered workflows enable firms to seamlessly conduct design reviews and
structural analysis, calculate carbon footprints and quantity take-offs, and plan
construction schedules, all based on a single, up-to-date, data-rich digital twin. An
infrastructure digital twin is a structured way to federate information from various
systems. In addition to bringing siloed data together, a digital twin can unlock data
from existing design files, essentially “lighting up dark data”. This unlocked data is the
foundation for quickly and easily applying artificial intelligence and machine learning
to drive actionable insights and better outcomes.

If you are still not convinced, here are some specific examples of how digital twins are
being used in each phase of infrastructure lifecycle management.

Planning phase

After identifying the need for a new asset or infrastructure system, the planning phase
begins by collecting information on costs, timing, and implementation. Planning also
includes feasibility studies, due diligence, asset specifications, budget estimates,
contract negotiations, funding, and public comments.

Infrastructure digital twins deliver value in the planning phase by helping to evaluate
whether a project is economically or technically viable. A digital twin also presents a
virtualized as-built environment or renders conceptual designs for stakeholder
engagement.

A real-world example of an infrastructure digital twin being used in the planning phase
is London’s South Dock Bridge, a high-profile pedestrian bridge linking South Quay
with the city’s iconic Canary Wharf business district. Led by Arcadis, a company
specializing in sustainable design and engineering, the project’s digital twin
incorporated the complexity of existing multistory basements with above-ground
rendering so that all stakeholders – including the public – could visualize the design
and create a plan to mitigate construction challenges in the highly developed
neighborhood.

Design phase

The conceptual project idea comes to fruition with technical details and specifications
for its construction and operation, which includes requirements and criteria that

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