Digital Twin in Asset Management: Comprehensive Guide & Insights

Many times you will have heard about digital twin and the advantages that this technology can offer during the process of designing, constructing, and managing a project. The context of architecture, engineering, and construction is certainly not the only one that can benefit from the potential of so-called “digital twins”: successful applications have been developed in numerous other sectors.

In this article, we focus on the utility of digital twins in the field of asset management: that is, the use of a digital twin connected to BIM data, IoT, technical documents, and management systems to monitor, maintain, and optimize physical assets throughout their entire life cycle.

In the construction sector, the digital twin becomes truly effective when born from an openBIM process: the IFC model, survey data, documents, IoT sensors, maintenance tickets, and site information contribute to the construction of a unique, queryable, and updatable digital environment over time.

From today you can also start improving your asset management processes with the help of a digital twin software. Try this powerful system now and start leveraging the information provided by your digital twins to analyze the performance of your assets, identify potential inefficiencies, plan maintenance interventions, monitor all activities in real-time, and optimize future strategies for managing your resources.

Let’s discover together what the advantages and potential that arise from the combination of digital twin and asset management are!

What is the digital twin in asset management?

A digital twin can be considered a virtual copy, faithful in every detail and constantly updated, of an entity in the real world. It constitutes a digital model capable of representing physical elements, such as buildings, plants, infrastructures, or entire cities, but also additional entities, such as systems, processes, supply chains, and so on.

This virtual model is built on the basis of accurate data and remains “connected” to the existing object for its entire life cycle with the aim of acquiring its design, behavior, performance, and other relevant parameters in real-time.

In the context of asset management, the technology of digital twins is of fundamental importance because it helps to concentrate information in one place and allows companies to optimize the management and maintenance processes of their resources.

In the case of buildings and infrastructures, the digital twin is not just a 3D model. It is an information system that can contain:

• BIM geometries and IFC models;
• technical properties of the elements;
• classifications and codings of assets;
• technical data sheets, elaborations, photos, reports, and documents;
• IoT data from sensors and devices;
• tickets, maintenance plans, and intervention history;
• information from surveys, point clouds, 360 photos, and mesh models;
• dashboards to monitor performance, anomalies, and operational priorities.

Through the use of digital twins, it is possible to collect accurate information about the functionalities of the assets in relation to their useful life and adopt a proactive approach that helps to extend the lifespan of equipment and improve their operational performance.

Read also Asset management: strategies and benefits in construction.

Digital twin in asset management

How to integrate digital twin and asset management?

The first step to integrating digital twin technology into asset management processes is to create the 3D digital model of the system to be managed.

This process can be developed using specific software that allows for the digital modeling of virtual copies of assets and to insert all currently available information (such as installation data, risks identified in this initial phase, physical attributes of the equipment, etc.) into them.

To obtain a true “digital twin,” the model created must be linked to the existing objects using technologies that enable the two systems (real and virtual) to constantly interact and exchange information in real-time.

By leveraging the capabilities of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things, it is possible to interconnect devices and equipment to the digital twin to collect relevant data, which is then transformed into dashboards and easily understandable visualizations.

The visual representation of data provided by digital twins is of fundamental importance as it supports asset managers in carrying out their activities and makes it much easier to:

• identify behavioral patterns of resources;
• detect potential problems and anomalies;
• trigger rule-based actions;
• forecast the outcomes of various operations.

Interaction between Digital Twin and existing resources

From the BIM model to Digital Twin Asset Management: the openBIM process

In the AECO sector, an effective digital twin emerges from an open and interoperable process. The operational foundation is interoperability, ensured by the use of open formats like IFC, developed by buildingSMART International to allow stakeholders in the supply chain to share information without relying on a single proprietary software.

The use of openBIM standards enables avoiding technology lock-in and facilitates open workflows where designers, companies, project managers, maintenance teams, operators, and clients can contribute to the production and updating of information throughout the entire life cycle of the project.

openBIM process from IFC model to Digital Twin Asset Management

Modeling the Work and Structuring the Assets

The first level of the process is the BIM modeling of the building, infrastructure, or plant. In this phase, it is possible to use BIM authoring tools to create parametric elements such as envelopes, openings, stairs, roofs, systems, technical components, furniture, and spaces.

Modeling is not only used to produce a three-dimensional representation. Each BIM object can be enriched with useful information for future management, such as:

• name and description of the asset;
• location;
• technical characteristics;
• materials;
• classification;
• identification codes;
• maintenance properties;
• linked documents;
• energy and system data.

In this way, the BIM model is not confined to the design phase, but becomes the informational basis of the digital twin and accompanies the work through the construction, management, and maintenance phases.

Federating Models, Surveys, and Territorial Data

A digital twin can manage complex scenarios not only at the scale of a single building but also at the territorial scale. In a single digital environment, IFC models, 3D mesh models, point clouds, 360 photos, surveys, GIS data, infrastructure models, and system representations can be federated.

This capability is particularly useful when working on widespread building inventories, linear infrastructures, technological networks, stations, viaducts, hospital complexes, campuses, shopping centers, or urban portions.

Federating the data allows for a transition from a general territorial view to the detail of a single component, such as a system terminal, a window, an electrical panel, a sensor, or a structural element. The operational advantage is having the necessary information at the right time, without dispersing it in folders, separate documents, or non-communicating systems.

Linking Documents, Elaborates, and Technical Information

All technical documents and related information can be made accessible directly from the three-dimensional model. Reports, graphic tables, technical data sheets, bills of quantities, energy data, floor plans, photos, renderings, and maintenance documents can be linked to the objects or spaces of the digital twin.

In this way, by querying an asset in the model, the technician can quickly access the necessary information to make decisions, plan interventions, or verify the state of the work.

Updating the Model Over Time

To keep the digital twin truly useful, the model must be updatable. Changes can involve both geometry and data: moving elements, removing components no longer present, adding new objects, updating attributes, properties, classifications, and technical information.

This aspect is central in asset management: if a component is replaced, if a new system is installed, if an element is moved, or if a property changes, the digital twin must reflect the updated condition of the actual asset.

Even seemingly simple operations, such as changing the position of a piece of furniture, tracking a component, or updating a technical data point, take on great value when they are recorded directly in the model. The digital twin thus becomes a dynamic and shared archive of the state of the work.

Improving operational efficiency through asset digital twins: techniques and tools

Digital twins have allowed asset managers to make significant advances in resource management. The capabilities of these models extend, in fact, well beyond the simple virtual representation of the physical objects around us, for example:

• they can be used to monitor in real-time the performance and operating conditions of equipment, reducing downtime through predictive maintenance. By simulating different failure scenarios, digital twins can predict when machinery is likely to fail, allowing companies to carry out maintenance before it occurs;
• they enable process optimization, by constantly analyzing operational data and comparing it with historical data, digital twins can identify inefficiencies, forecast future changes, and recommend optimizations;
• they improve energy efficiency by identifying areas where energy is wasted. They will be able to model different energy-saving scenarios and implement the most efficient option;
• they ensure that all information is easily accessible and available to stakeholders when needed.

Thanks to their ability to perform predictive simulations, “digital twins” can be used to evaluate different scenarios, as well as analyze risks and potential outcomes associated with possible decisions.

In other words, they represent an operational tool to support asset managers’ choices and guide the decision-making process towards optimizing maintenance programs.

Digital twins are, therefore, capable of combining concepts and data sources of various natures: BIM model, IoT data, documents, tickets, energy information, safety data, surveys, dashboards, and maintenance history. This way, they provide a clearer and more comprehensive view of management processes and allow for more successful planning of future asset management strategies.

Now let’s present a practical example of these capabilities, the use of an IFC openBIM model of a shopping center to conduct detailed analyses on the assets of the structure, visualize system data, control devices, open tickets, and monitor the maintenance status of elements.

Digital twin, IoT, and facility management: an operational case study on a shopping center

A particularly effective application case concerns the use of the digital twin for managing a shopping center. In this scenario, the IFC model of the building becomes the main access point to information, devices, and maintenance activities.

The model can be connected to IoT sensors, systems, security systems, access control devices, electrical panels, photovoltaic systems, HVAC systems, and facility management platforms.

The goal is to transform the BIM model into an operational interface: not just a model to visualize, but a tool to query, update, and use for decision-making.

Digital twin of a shopping center with energy, IoT, and security data

Energy Monitoring and Photovoltaic Systems

By connecting photovoltaic systems to the corresponding IFC model objects, it is possible to visualize production, instantaneous power, and historical data directly from the digital twin.

Similarly, by selecting an electrical panel or an installation component, the manager can consult data on consumption, absorbed power, operational status, and performance trends over time.

This integration allows to:

• identify energy waste;
• compare actual data to expected data;
• assess the efficiency of systems;
• support decision-making for efficiency improvements;
• plan interventions based on measured data.

Control of Lights, Access, and Security

The digital twin can also represent the status of systems and security systems. For example, lights can be displayed with different colors based on their on/off status and, if the system allows, controlled directly from the interface connected to the model.

The same principle can be applied to doors, windows, electronic locks, intrusion detection systems, cameras, and access control devices. If a door is open, closed, or in alarm, the digital twin can show its status directly on the model’s geometry.

In the case of cameras, the model can locate the devices and allow access to the last recorded image or video streaming. This enables linking the spatial component of the building with information from the security systems.

Indoor Environmental Quality and Real-Time Data

Another application area concerns environmental monitoring. Sensors for temperature, humidity, air quality, CO_₂, or indoor comfort can be associated with the spaces of the IFC model.

In this way, the digital twin can visualize the data directly on the rooms, even through color logic. For example, a room can be colored based on the detected humidity level, making the understanding of environmental conditions immediate.

This representation mode is useful for:

• facility managers;
• energy managers;
• maintenance managers;
• managers of complex buildings;
• technicians responsible for environmental monitoring.

Ticket, maintenance plans, and operational dashboards

The IFC model can also be integrated with the facility management system. In this case, each asset can be linked to maintenance information, open tickets, scheduled activities, attachments, images, and the history of interventions.

From the model, it is possible to:

• view a dashboard with statistical data;
• consult information on locations and environments;
• filter assets by plan, room, or category;
• open a new ticket directly from an object in the model;
• consult open, closed, or in-progress tickets;
• view priorities, status, and assignments;
• highlight in the model objects with critical issues or urgent interventions.

For example, by clicking on a chart that shows tickets with high priority, the system can automatically highlight in the model the IFC objects affected by that condition. Thus, the management data does not remain isolated in a table but is contextualized in the real space of the building.

This integration between BIM, digital twin, and facility management allows for transitioning from document-based and reactive management to a visual, collaborative, and data-driven management of assets.

Advanced methods to ensure asset integrity with digital twins

In many high-risk public and private sectors, such as the energy sector, traditional resource management methods often rely on reactive maintenance tactics, resulting in longer downtimes, costly repairs, and safety issues. These approaches may overlook emerging problems or unforeseen failure modes, leading to potential gaps in resource integrity management.

Digital twins play an essential role in asset integrity management (AIM), which is the operational process for maintaining and protecting the physical and digital infrastructures of an asset, ensuring operational continuity, extended lifespan, safety, and reliable performance.

By leveraging advanced data analytics, simulation techniques, and IoT technologies, digital twins provide a comprehensive understanding of asset behavior, creating a cohesive and synergistic system that anticipates and prevents any issues, supporting data-driven decision-making.

It will thus be possible to successfully utilize data insights and improve:

• scenario planning;
• strategic planning;
• risk mitigation;
• data access;
• risk identification.

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Integration of the Asset Administration Shell with Digital Twin Technology: A Technical Overview

Digital twins are revolutionizing the way organizations create, monitor, and optimize their physical assets, processes, and resources, but to successfully develop them, a consistent standardization of digital twins is necessary, especially regarding the structuring of model components and interfaces.

The need to work and communicate with a single common language has prompted the IDTA (Industrial Digital Twin Association) to develop a neutral standard, adaptable for various industries and sectors, the AAS.

In the context of Industry 4.0, the AAS, the Asset Administration Shell, is the standardized digital representation of an asset, the cornerstone for the interoperability of the components of that asset itself.

It represents a semantic standardization of the digital twin and is divided into sub-models, which form the standardized components, and their contents can be clearly identified.

It encapsulates all relevant information, properties, and functionalities and allows describing objects throughout their life cycle: as planned, as built, and as used.

The AAS, integrating with digital twins:

• facilitates integration in the built asset sector and for construction components, ensuring a comprehensive approach throughout the life cycle of a built asset;
• promotes an increase in efficiency and transparency in operations by replacing the landscape of heterogeneous data with a unified, interoperable data structure that allows the integration of different systems;
• transforms traditional operating models with a solid and secure data infrastructure;
• allows for a unified view of assets, asset types, instances, and resources;
• helps achieve accurate monitoring and control of processes.

In the BIM sector, this topic is directly related to the need to structure consistent data, classifications, properties, and maintenance information within models. A truly useful digital twin does not only depend on the geometric quality of the model, but above all on the quality, consistency, and interoperability of the data associated with the assets.

Integration between Asset Administration Shell, BIM, IoT, and digital twin

Applications of digital twin assets in buildings, infrastructure, and cities

Digital twins bring innovation and improvements in many sectors: civil, industrial, naval, urban planning, healthcare. The way they can be applied depends on the application sector; for example, let’s think about smart cities and the use of GIS for asset management.

In this case, where the aim is to use data to control and manage all urban processes, the digital twin supports accurate monitoring of infrastructures, strategic structures, traffic, green elements, maintenance, and service provision.

For example, from an accurate view of the entire infrastructure of the city conveniently from a PC, you will obtain information at your fingertips that improves planning and urban management through smarter decisions.

Also in the infrastructure sector, the digital twin plays a central role. BIM infrastructure models, point clouds, 3D meshes, sensors, and territorial data can be federated in a single environment to monitor viaducts, roads, rail networks, stations, and plants. In these cases, it is particularly important to be able to transition from the territorial scale to the detail of the individual technical element.

In the historical-artistic heritage, the digital twin can integrate BIM models, mesh models, historical photos, renderings, 360 photos, and conservation documentation. This allows for the construction of a digital representation useful both for maintenance and technical management, as well as for enhancement and enjoyment by citizens, visitors, and administrations.

In the energy sector, the digitization of a power station, distribution line, or plant can support control, monitoring, maintenance, and technical consultation activities.

But let’s also think about the healthcare sectors; with a digital twin one can study and manage the organization and management of patients during a disaster, or it could help doctors provide unique and personalized treatment for specific patients.

In general, however, it is possible to identify three types of digital twins based on the type of application:

• product digital twin, created to replicate physical products. They are widely used in the industrial sector to model the performance of equipment and the behavior of products under various conditions, thereby optimizing performance and better managing the lifecycle;
• process digital twin, applied for simulating production processes. In the manufacturing and logistics sectors, they are useful for simplifying operations and increasing the efficiency of production lines;
• system digital twin, obtained from the combination of product and process digital twins. With the modeling and management of the entire system, it is possible to manage and evaluate how the individual digital twins influence and interact with each other.

In addition to this categorization, it is possible to identify other more specific digital twins, such as Performance Twins, which focus on remote monitoring of asset performance, allowing for failure prediction and proactive maintenance scheduling, Operational Twins, which provide real-time data to optimize resource allocation and response strategies, or Environmental Twins, used to simulate and analyze environmental impacts.

Applications of the digital twin for buildings, infrastructure, plants, and cities

Impact Assessment of Digital Twin Assets on Industrial Processes

The use of a digital twin has a positive impact in the industrial sector and optimizes processes and resource management:

• real-time simulation of production systems, aiding production plans in adapting to changes in the environment;
• dynamically planning production;
• information exchange along the production chain;
• efficient commissioning of devices and plants;
• evaluation of material usage to save on costs;
• identification of inefficiencies;
• replication of tracking systems.

In short, the digital twin provides a digital image of the entire company, its processes, its products, and the whole system.

Asset Tracking and Collaborative Updating of the Digital Twin

One of the most interesting areas of Digital Twin Asset Management is asset tracking, that is, the digital tracking of assets and their location over time.

Thanks to the use of passive or active tags installed on the objects to be monitored, the maintainer can update the position or status of the asset during its operational activities. The modification can be reflected within the IFC model, keeping the digital twin aligned with reality.

This logic is particularly useful for:

• technical furnishings;
• mobile equipment;
• plant devices;
• components subject to relocation;
• assets distributed across large buildings;
• facilities of hospitals, schools, stations, offices, or shopping centers.

The operational value lies in the fact that the update does not always have to be entrusted to the designer or the BIM specialist. Maintenance personnel, operators, and those involved in management can also contribute to the updating of the digital twin through simple, collaborative interfaces accessible from browsers or mobile devices.

This approach makes BIM more sustainable and democratic: every actor in the supply chain can contribute to updating information, keeping the model alive and useful even after the delivery of the work.

How does the Digital Twin Benefit Asset Management Strategies?

Digital twins offer numerous opportunities for use in resource management and provide a range of advantages, as they:

• provide accurate and up-to-date information on equipment performance;
• centralize data in one place;
• help contain the time and costs required for maintenance;
• allow improvements in asset operability and reduction of unplanned downtime;
• optimize the planning and scheduling of interventions;
• improve safety and minimize the risk of unexpected failures and malfunctions;
• provide accurate forecasts of future maintenance needs;
• enable organizations to enhance the quality and performance of their products.

As you may have noticed, digital twins are essential for implementing asset management processes that are truly efficient, especially when integrated with BIM models, openBIM standards, IoT sensors, and facility management systems.

You can optimize your work with a tool to manage and monitor in real time the digital twins of buildings and infrastructures. Thanks to the capabilities of this tool, you can track and manage all assets present in your facility with maximum ease and leverage this information in the facility management software to plan and monitor maintenance interventions and analyze the performance of your equipment.

FAQ on Digital Twin Asset Management

What is Digital Twin Asset Management?

Digital Twin Asset Management is the use of a digital twin connected to BIM data, IoT, technical documents, and management systems to monitor, maintain, and optimize physical assets throughout their lifecycle.

What is the role of BIM in Digital Twin Asset Management?

BIM provides the geometric and informational basis of the digital twin. Through IFC models, parametric objects, properties, classifications, and related documents, the BIM model becomes the access point to technical and maintenance information about the assets.

What is the difference between a BIM model and a digital twin?

A BIM model digitally describes the work and its components. A digital twin, on the other hand, links that model to updated data, sensors, management systems, tickets, maintenance activities, and operational information, maintaining a dynamic relationship with the real asset.

How are IoT sensors used in a digital twin?

IoT sensors can be connected to objects or environments in the model to display real-time data, such as temperature, humidity, energy consumption, lighting status, door and window openings, alarms, or system performance.

Why is the digital twin useful in facility management?

The digital twin is useful in facility management because it allows for consulting assets, spaces, tickets, maintenance plans, attachments, and dashboards directly from the BIM model, making it easier to plan interventions, identify issues, and update information.

What is asset tracking in the digital twin?

Asset tracking is the digital tracking of assets. Through tags, devices, or manual updates, it is possible to monitor the position and status of objects and update the digital model based on changes that have occurred in reality.