Many AEC professionals, when asked about 3D digital twin technology, will say it’s a powerful resource, but one that takes a lot of time, money and specialist talent to leverage. And that it’s really only useful in the design stages of the most complicated projects. Unfortunately, it’s a perspective that prevents many construction companies from reaping the benefits of the latest advances in 3D digital twin technology.

Still, those views exist for good reason. Consider the following:

• Creating 3D digital twins has been costly and time consuming. Traditionally, the only way to create a 3D digital twin of a jobsite was to use a 3D scanner, a time-consuming and expensive option. Because of this, creating 3D data scans of the as-built environment on a weekly or even monthly basis has not been practical for all but the most sophisticated and well-funded projects. Therefore, it’s been difficult to reflect recent as-built spatial information on a consistent and timely basis. No one is going to use a 3D digital twin during the construction or post-construction phase if it doesn’t reflect the as-built environment accurately.
• Limited applicability. Because spatially accurate 3D models have traditionally been so hard to generate, they’re typically only used during the pre-construction phase for in-depth designs of the most complicated projects. But usually, as soon as constructions begin, that intricate, painstakingly crafted 3D model gets flattened into 2D site capture processes, and within days the 3D model is rendered out of date and useless for project management.
• 3D digital twin data can be massive and unwieldy. Typically, 3D scan data eats up a lot of bytes, easily using several gigabytes of data when scanning 10,000 square feet of space. That amount of data is not easy to load in a web browser environment or to share with others—let alone integrate it with other construction management systems.
• Lack of enterprise-grade 3D digital twin platform software. Although there are several software vendors providing features like 3D scan data online streaming on a Web browser, with the goal of making sharing and collaboration easier, that doesn’t usually meet customers’ actual day-to-day needs. Construction companies need a seamless workflow that works for their daily duties.

Evolving 3D Capabilities

That was then. This is now.

3D digital twin technology has evolved to the point that spatially accurate, up-to-date models of the as-built environment are now within reach of virtually any construction project, from basic structures to sophisticated power plants, and everything in between. And for those who know what to look for, a new wave of 3D digital twin technology addresses existing constraints and concerns regarding cost, versatility and ease of use.

In fact, the newest evolution of 3D digital twin platforms requires only a consumer-grade, off-the-shelf 360-degree camera to create and share high-quality 3D data capture with fully accurate dimensions and 3D spatial relations. Moreover, the leading 3D digital twin solutions are fully integrated with existing platforms. Project managers, building teams and owners have full access to advanced 3D digital technology within their existing construction management platform of choice. And the technology will adapt to how they work, not the other way around.

Thanks to these new developments, 3D digital twin technology is now on a track to become a standard part of any AEC IT toolkit for all kinds of projects across the lifecycle of a property, from pre-con, throughout construction and on to ongoing operations. Looking ahead, 3D digital twin platforms are poised to become a new IT pillar—just as ERP, BIM/VDC, CRM and Groupware are now.

Building Smart

Contractors and owners want to build smart—but they need new tools to do it. On-site surprises and complications are a reality in the construction industry, but a new wave of advanced 3D digital twin technology holds the promise of delivering the collaboration, confidence and control AEC pros need to stay on time, on budget and on target. In fact, this technology has already resulted in an average cost savings of $400,000 per year, 100% visibility into projects from any location and countless errors prevented.

So far, construction remains largely a 2D industry and one that hungers for technological innovation. But 3D digital twin technology is already becoming a game changer for the first wave of early adopters.