The global construction and real estate industries are growing as more opportunities sprout in infrastructure, non-residential and residential sectors. And, as these industries grow, experts recommend digitalization as the key for construction and real estate companies that want to embrace the future and stay relevant over time. Today, outstanding organizations use technologies like digital twins to stand out, retain a competitive edge, and deliver excellent results.

What are Digital Twins?

Digital twins virtually represent physical assets like buildings, highways, or cities. Their primary purpose is to provide data that helps experts and stakeholders optimize designing, construction, and real-time operation. Plus, with a digital twin, a property owner can keep an eye on how an asset is performing through examining space utilization, the behavior of occupants, and usage of resources like electricity.

Why are Digital Twins Essential in the Construction and Real Estate Industries?

The construction industry needs digital twins for the following reasons:

1. Structural Health Monitoring

Structures such as bridges, buildings, towers, and retaining walls get damaged by extreme loads resulting from the elements, overloads, and disasters like earthquakes and floods. They can also deteriorate over time as their strength and structural integrity wane gradually. Eventually, deterioration of these structures can lead to incidents like collapsing, which are life-threatening and costly to fix. However, you can use digital twin technology to check your building's health by installing monitors in any stress points and cracks.

2. Real-Time Data

Digital twins deliver real-time data (RTD). That means once the system collects information data, it transfers it to you without any delays. Real-time data helps contractors and builders provide project owners with regular, up-to-date feedbacks and fosters improved decision-making in construction projects. Moreover, property owners can use RTD to monitor and improve the efficiency of their physical assets in real-time.

3. New Construction Models

Architects are often hindered by practical circumstances whenever they develop new designs for construction projects. For example, since all buildings must adhere to safety requirements, testing a project in the real world only to discover it's unsafe amounts to massive losses and time wastage. Luckily, today, designers and architects can use digital twins to replicate and test project ideas digitally. Plus, this technology allows them to factor in real-world aspects like weather conditions and gravity. 

4. Occupant Safety

The built environment, which covers everything from cities and neighborhoods to parks and buildings, is necessary for supporting human life and activities. However, this environment, especially its building part, needs optimum safety to ensure end-users are secure. That is why digital twins are essential. A digital twin enables the manager or building owner to monitor and resolve potential catastrophes like electrical malfunctions that lead to expensive damages and harm to residents.

For more information about digital twins, contact a company like CityZenith.