Nemetschek group were determined that dTwin should be one step ahead at all times; only then can we deliver on our promise to constantly help the AEC/O sector to successfully address the challenges it faces both now and in the future
Of course, the AEC/O industry is a complex eco-system of experts, ranging from designers to builders, suppliers and maintenance operatives. Not one of those experts can operate in isolation of each other and, reflecting that, Nemetschek is building a partner ecosystem to help us ensure that dTwin is delivering its full potential to customers. To that end, we elected to work together with Hexagon’s Geosystems division, the global leader in digital reality solutions, in a best-of-breeds initiative.
Before we look at the benefits this strategic partnership will deliver, let’s look again at what makes dTwin such a game-changer for the industry.
Facing up to today’s AEC/O challenges
While the landscape of digital solutions designed to help the AEC/O industry address its various challenges is vast, highly valuable information often resides mostly in silos, and thus becomes inaccessible throughout a building’s lifecycle. This results in major inefficiencies due to the constant and tedious re-working that’s required. Moreover, outdated and incomplete information leads to poor and error prone decisions which negatively affect the performance of buildings and increases operational costs.
As one of the leading worldwide providers of solutions for the AEC/O industry, this is the challenge the Nemetschek Group was faced with. This challenge is against the backdrop of material and energy costs rising, a shortage of skilled workers and more stringent ESG and sustainability goals; therefore, the sector can no longer afford to abstain from leveraging data, especially during the early operation phase of a building’s lifecycle.
Introducing dTwin
To connect building data across the lifecycle, dTwin uses the technology of digital twins for data harmonisation and visualisation. Being a digital replica of a physical asset, a digital twin is a perfect environment for the design, construction and maintenance phases; from components to systems or whole buildings, it brings clarity to all stakeholders from the outset.
More importantly, the virtual replica is continuously fed with real-time information from the physical object, reflecting its current state. With this, a digital twin not only allows for accurate visualisations but also derives insights through analysis, simulations and optimisations.
Therefore, with dTwin, decision-makers can efficiently track, filter and query all relevant information and derive purpose-tailored insights. Practical and easy-to-use real-time dashboards reveal operational insights and complete reports, delivering project information and analysis to different stakeholders – from AEC service providers to operators and owners. It’s real-time information at the industry’s fingertips, increasing both the pace and the accuracy of the decision-making process, saving time, money and other valuable resources.
The difference with dTwin compared with other digital twin solutions, is in the variety of opportunities to create a digital twin. It can be created with BIM 3D models or with reality capture via methods like 3D laser scanning or 360° photography. Even if only 2D drawings are available, the digital twin can be easily built up out of them. All of those methods can be combined so that the user can navigate with one switch between a BIM model, a point cloud or photos of the building. The visualisation of the digital twin is complemented by GIS contextual data in which the building is embedded.
End-to-end workflow for efficient and sustainable building operations
To further build on what dTwin already offers, Nemetschek recently engaged in a strategic partnership with Hexagon’s Geosystems division. In a bid to accelerate the digital transformation of the AEC/O industry, as a first step the partnership aims to drive the adoption of digital twins by offering their customers a seamlessly integrated end-to-end workflow for efficient and sustainable building operations.
Nemetschek and Hexagon share the view that digital twins are key in transforming the industry and overcoming the challenges building owners and operators are facing – not only for new projects, but also particularly for the large market of existing buildings.
To that end, Hexagon provides its leading reality capture and Scan2BIM solutions to capture the latest building data to equip the customer with an accurate and up-to-date representation of their building, leveraging point clouds, 360° panoramas, BIM models and more. By bringing together such visual reality with information from CAD/BIM, IWMS, and the real-time streams from building operations, a digital twin enables data-driven decision making and true Building Lifecycle Intelligence™.
Data accessible to all, benefits enjoyed by all
Jointly, Nemetschek and Hexagon will provide customers with the tools, services and expertise for an end-to-end digital twin workflow by joining the up-to-date building data through Hexagon’s latest reality capture solutions with the smart and efficient building operations powered by Nemetschek’s dTwin.
By working together, we’re helping to realise your buildings of the future today, by creating a winning union – between Nemetschek, Hexagon and you – that amplifies all that dTwin offers.
