Mirror, Mirror: Digital Twin Technology & Value-Added Areas of Application

Digital twin technology signals that it will play a spectacular role in human life, both in the near and distant future. Although they are just beginning to gain acclaim as the new horizon of technological progress, digital twins have actually been around the block for quite some time. Ultimately, the wheel has not been reinvented, we had been working with digital twins since the advent of information technology. All the organized data structures reflecting the features of a real-world system or process that we have projected and recorded on a computer for all these decades were – fundamentally – digital twins. After all, those too were digital reflections of concrete reality. Still, technological advancement never ceases to shape up with exponential momentum. Meanwhile, capabilities achieved by modern digital twin technology is ready to reign supreme in all areas of society, industry and commerce.

Albeit not as sophisticated as the prototypes you may encounter today, digital twins of different kinds have already been making professional life easier for a considerable length of time. Architectural projects have been designed by reference to digital twins of buildings, structures and topographical information. Map and city planning studies have been carried out by triangulating digital copies of geographic and urban regions. Organizational facts and dynamics attributable to manufacturing and energy facilities, observatories, military bases and companies have been converted into data format. Computers digitally represented factors and variables to be evaluated in miscellaneous visual forms. Now imagine being able to remote-control such a large-scale enterprise instantaneously, using an interactive 3D hologram, next to all the control parameters you may require for your work and business.

In forward-thinking enterprises, analysis and monitoring as to professional systems and processes have long been conducted with a variety of digital interfaces. Necessary data for the system and processes have been collected, calculated and tracked on adequately advanced computers. Integrated software solutions such as SAP Business One that are collectively known as “Enterprise Resource Planning” [ERP] have been creating digital twins of enterprises through real data from the departments of finance, operations and human resources. They have been utilized by premiere businesses for more than thirty years in the effective management of complex organizations under a unitary cyber roof. Mentioning digital twins today, we are referring to a next generation tech leap that will likely culminate to radical paradigm shifts in the business world; particularly in combination with the most suitable ERP system and ‘Artificial Intelligence’ [AI] software.

Modern Digital Twins

In its most contemporary sense, a digital twin is a data-driven computational model of a real-world system or process. It can be a virtual replica of a physical, factual or projected entity with multiple components entangled and in tune with one another. It is designed to achieve targeted efficiency rates on the basis of cumulative rational estimates. When brought into conjunction with an AI solution that meets the compliance requirements to merge with this model, your work can be organized with paramount precision throughout the entire lifecycle of your system or process. Top-tier providers like Microsoft have been releasing software such as ‘Azure Digital Twins’ to enterprises that wish to adopt this technology, accompanied by customized hardware to be installed according to your specifications.

Digital twins can optimize real systems and processes, taking into account the factors and variables that interact within and without. In order for this to occur, a continuous stream of data is communicated to a mainframe processor through sensors that are focused on various sources. Thus, a real-time holographic depiction is achieved by combining the stream with the conditions of a physics-based programming infrastructure that forms the underlying logical layer. This is called ‘the digital thread’ in computing. The digital thread performs measurement, classification and bilateral transmission by converting information from a number of sources into data of the interaction between the system and its environment. In this manner, the digital model represents the dynamic characteristics of the original system or process with clear-cut accuracy.

The resemblance of the digital twin to the system or process that is referenced will depend on the scale and precision with which the relevant data is addressed as well as the factors and variables taken into account. Notwithstanding, the merits of a digital twin are measured on the basis of utility and functionality. Though digital twins are occasionally categorized as advanced types of simulation, the former can actually be merged into an incomparably wider range of applications than the latter. At this juncture, it would be fit to address the particulars of digital twins and simulations, clarifying the elemental distinctions between them.

Digital Twins & Simulations

Digital twins and simulations are both virtual reflections of a real system or process. Beyond that point, stark differences hold sway between the two technologies:

1. Digital twins represent current information as they use real-time data. Simulations are based on fictional or past data that is no longer valid.

2. Digital twins are used in the optimization of systems and processes. Simulations can only help us understand how systems work under certain conditions.

3. Unlike digital twins, simulations do not interact with current conditions. They can only help us understand past trends. Digital twins allow us to achieve flawless calibration for both current and future performance.

4. Simulations can help us make more informed decisions based on past experience or data. Digital twins offer a more direct control mechanism through instant monitoring, analysis, feedback and implementation.

5. Unlike simulations, digital twins can be used to remotely control any real system. Any business, organization or facility can be managed from anywhere in the world via digital twin technology.

6. Digital twins offer comprehensive, fast and predictive control. They detect potential issues, enable precaution and help exert rapid intervention in the right direction. Simulations, on the other hand, can only help us better prepare for such problems.

Simulations offer remarkable practical advantages within many professional arenas. For instance, they are utilized in pilot and astronaut training in the aviation and aerospace industries. Using simulations with analogous conditions to the real world, candidates are able to train without having to face the risks that come with proper adversity. Surgeons receive training with the help of simulations so that they can effectively prepare for high-risk operations with actual consequences. In manufacturing plants, decisions are made considering the recommendations of mathematical simulations revealing the possible outcomes of a given set of resource management strategies. Nonetheless, simulations are strictly used for training and decision-making purposes. Digital twin technology elicits superb levels of value by providing you consummate control in all your systems and processes.

Societal, Industrial & Commercial Applications of Digital Twin Technology

Digital twin technology enables cyberspace to work together with physical systems and processes. This is why it is considered a fulcrum for Industry 4.0 and the innovation cornerstone of the future. Via digital twins, it is possible to bring performance and quality indicators of automation, systems and processes closer to our objectives in any field of application. Using this technology, we can implement and follow agile strategies that elevate to the highest efficiency, remotely and in perfect unison. Hence, any system or process that requires dynamic and reliable decisions can be corroborated with these superior capacities.

As digital twins become widespread all across the globe, they are likely to be used in the management of real systems and processes in all areas of life. They could potentially open the door to heightened economic activity – prioritizing urban areas intertwined with industrial zones – as well as anywhere in the world and contribute remarkable social value. Thanks to digital twins, it is possible to reach the safest and most efficient alternatives for a myriad of functions. They should be primarily considered and evaluated with direct reference to the most essential sectors for emergency planning and intervention.

In risk prevention studies that require high accuracy for healthcare and education, digital twin technology would be of most crucial utility. Schools can benefit from digital twins to design their environment according to practices that offer the highest security, prior to changing order permanently. Thus, the authorized personnel will also have the proactive foresight to ensure that the necessary measures are taken for issues that might arise without letting them affect students. Doctors can use digital twins to work through complicated patient scenarios. Ergo, high-quality experience can be gained in a much safer manner and the chance of administering appropriate treatments can be increased.

Processes in manufacturing facilities are operated by digital twins, which allows for more logical planning of resources and increased productivity levels. Aided by this technology, virtual models of factories can be recreated to be tested before new designs or arrangements are physically applied. In this way, more realistic predictions can be made about how a particular alteration might affect production. Digital twin technology can be integrated into any structure to power production and provide immense command over automation mechanisms with minimum human interference. You can inspect equipment performance, identify potential problems immediately and implement AI-powered solutions in no time.

In the transportation sector, digital twins can be used to more rationally manage the performance of systems such as transport and logistics networks. Possible transportation bottlenecks can be detected and prevented in advance and positioning can be enacted on the basis of more unified and synchronized decisions. Companies trying to optimize complex transportation systems can use digital twins to plan their routes more efficiently. Through a model regulated with statistical sales data, they can decide which routes, regions and time zones to choose; adapting current and upcoming programs as needed. Digital twins can also facilitate closure plans during rush hours. Indeed, they can be configured to meet a plethora of heavy-duty requirements with immaculate compatibility.
It is possible to customize the digital twin technology depending on the factors and parameters of any system or process. It improves, accelerates and makes collaboration and communication seamless within and outside organizations. By providing a holographic bird’s eye view of a system or process in common, it can figuratively increase the rate of high-quality remote coordination between teams to “the speed of light”. In commercial work, it can consolidate decisions by presenting a comprehensive synopsis of the functionality of a system operating with a ‘Digital Product Life Cycle’ [DPLC] to enable customers to view products remotely and in vivid detail. In this way, it will be much faster for businesses to reach and interact with the public; minus the accruing logistics costs.
Digital twin technology brings forth applications that will likely eliminate a great deal of time, money and quality lost in many social, professional, industrial and commercial settings due to errors in human reasoning and estimation. Any organization that achieves the incorporation of ERP systems, AI solutions and digital twin technologies – before the demand has skyrocketed – will maintain state-of-the-art privileges in their ventures. All varieties of resource planning will be reinforced by digitally transformed outputs, fine-tuning your process so that your organization can thrive. Befriending digital twins, managing your enterprise will be a much more direct, active and lucrative endeavor.

Despite these exclusive advantages you might attain in the business arenas, digital twin technology investments require serious planning. Loose decisions might prove costly if not managed with proper care, responsible planning and accumulated digital experience.

ODS Consulting Group provides ‘Engineering, Digitalization and Technology Consulting’ services for your digital transformation and innovation investments. You can reach our international representatives using our global communication channels and receive complimentary guidance on your tech strategy.