What’s a digital twin and is it as good as the promise? And what can BIM do?

Technology is allowing great advances in design, construction and building management techniques. Here we explore digital twins and BIM through interviews with leaders from Willow and Autodesk. One of the key recommendations of the Shergold and Weir Building Confidence report was the improvement of documentation by digitising all design and construction information and extending its use into building operations. This electronic building passport could be delivered through the development of digital twins – a living, digital model of a building. Willow previously Ridley is working at the forefront of the new technology and has delivered several digital twin projects recently including Investa’s Sixty Martin Place, 567 Collins Street in Melbourne and 151 Clarence Street in Sydney. The projects have gained the company some international attention. Willow’s head of implementation and product manager James Shirley says there is already serious interest from the US market.