Page 22 - BENTLEY SYSTEMS PR REPORT - JUNE 2024

6/3/24, 3:55 PM The big value of infrastructure digital twins is finally here - Construction Week Online
consider regional, urban, and environmental data, as well as other important
information.

Infrastructure digital twins can be used for design optimization, clash detection, energy
savings, and carbon footprint reduction. They also provide better visibility into BIM
data and can run simulations to reduce the risk for issues such as flooding and
subsidence. Another big benefit of using a digital twin in the design phase is that it can
be used as a single source of truth for multidiscipline engineering data, keeping
engineers, project managers, owner-operators, and other stakeholders on the same
page with the latest information.

WSP, an environmental engineering firm, used digital twins to design its Port of
Melbourne Rail Transformation Project. With only three months to deliver final
designs, WSP presented weekly design reviews to a large and involved stakeholder
community, including the construction contractor and port officials. This real-time
collaboration led to a right-first-time design approach, which identified potential issues
early on, reducing waste and rework.

Construction phase

During construction, infrastructure digital twins can bridge the gap between project
management and the field by making all plans and data accessible through any mobile
device. Digital twins can expand BIM from 3D to 4D to enable better scheduling. Better
scheduling and resource planning can increase the safety and efficiency of construction
sites, helping to reduce carbon emissions, soil movement, and delays. Digital twins can
also expand 4D to 5D and include cost information, making budgets and change orders
more predictable during construction.

For design and consulting firm WSB, leveraging infrastructure digital twins and
workflows on road transportation projects has shrunk schedules, generated savings,
and most importantly, reduced traffic disruption. For example, digital twins saved the
Minnesota Department of Transportation more than USD 15 million during the
conversion of 2.8 miles of TH 169 into an expanded freeway with upgraded
interchanges, bridge, and underground utilities.

Operations and maintenance phase

The operations and maintenance phase ensures an asset performs effectively
throughout its life. The phase includes monitoring, maintenance and upkeep,
scheduled repairs, part replacement, and inspections.

Real-time data from IoT sensors in the field can be incorporated into infrastructure
digital twins to help with remote monitoring and inspections, saving time and money –
and, in the case of hazardous inspections, increasing safety and reducing risk. Digital
twins can optimize maintenance schedules, reduce the risk of failure, and allow project
managers to make better decisions related to asset replacement or decommissioning.

https://www.constructionweekonline.com/analysis/the-big-value-of-infrastructure-digital-twins-is-finally-here 3/4