UNIT 1 INTRODUCTION

Introduction- Cyber Digital twin-definition-uses and benefits-need

for digital twin-working principle Technology Digital thread-
digital shadow-building blocks of digital twin-digital twin
technology drivers and enablers

1. Introduction
A Digital Twin is a software model of a physical thing. At the very least, this technology
comprises the unique identity of the actual item. It gives a digital representation of a tangible
item, such as an automotive engine, a structure, a solar farm, or even an entire city. The digital
twin may mimic various processes that material things might go through and forecast their
performance under those settings. Digital Twin is a simple algorithm that forecasts how a
product or process will perform based on real-world data [1], [2], [3]. These applications
incorporate the Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and data analytics to
improve output results. The digital twin frequently includes auxiliary data such as the device's
firmware version, configuration, calibration, and setpoint data. With adequate information,
Digital Twin can recommend solutions that are more likely to work for each individual,
considering their unique medical history and statistics [4,5].

As digitised duplicates of equipment/machines or physical places outfitted with sensors, Digital

Twin, or virtual counterparts of physical assets are created, smart components are connected
with physical objects that employ sensors to collect data about working conditions, real-time
status, or position [6,7]. These components constitute a cloud-connected system that collects
and analyses all sensor data. This data is compared to industry and other contextual data. Digital
Twin also necessitates a robust digital culture. This operates best when companies already use
sensors and other data collection techniques to learn as much as possible. The Digital Twin
lives on up-to-date and correct data, and modifications can be applied gradually. Introducing
this technology in incremental increments, as an introduction or as an experiment, can assist in
introducing this new method to personnel at all levels, from engineers to business analysts
[8,9].

Digital Twin can be used to stress test operations in hospitals and medical institutions,
mimicking how to best function amid mass catastrophes. Such organisations frequently contain
components, such as accessible personnel, patient beds, and access to various testing facilities,
that may be modified to manage increasingly complex scenarios. Similarly, when it comes to
using Digital Twin in direct healthcare goods, such technology might help clinicians provide
unique, personalised treatment for particular patients. A digital twin's lifespan begins when
professionals investigate a physical system's mechanics and operational factors to create a
mathematical model replicating the original [10], [11], [12]. Developers create Digital Twin or
virtual models that may get feedback from sensors linked to the physical system. The sensors
collect critical operational data, and the digital model simulates what happens in a real-time
physical system. Users can employ a digital twin to investigate options for product lifetime
extension, manufacturing and process improvements, product creation, and prototype testing
[13,14].
The Digital Twin open up a world of possibilities. The conventional method of creating
something and refining it in subsequent versions and releases is no longer viable. The optimum
feasible efficiency level of a product, process, or system may be recognised and built using a
virtually-based design approach by simply analysing its characteristics, performance abilities,
and any concerns that may emerge. Digital Twin functioned as a virtual testbed to examine
functional relationships and their impact on electricity generation. In this scenario, the
advantages of Digital Twin were a less expensive and more effective method of analysing
control process phenomena and reducing downtime. Increasing plant dependability and
optimising resource utilisation were also mentioned as advantages. Employees can learn about
operations in a virtual environment using Digital Twin of plant systems and processes [15],
[16], [17].

2. Digital twin
A digital twin is a virtual model duplicating an IoT device's physical components and
behaviours across all phases of its lifespan. A digital twin is formed by employing sensors to
capture real-time data from real-world elements. That data is then utilised to produce a digital
replica, which may aid teams in better understanding and analysing real-world objects or
systems [18,19]. A digital twin's main advantage is that it gives real-time data that can aid in
learning, reasoning, and understanding how objects and systems function. It enables users to
analyse, model, and optimise a physical object's performance across its lifespan. Because of
the numerous advantages, many enterprises employ digital twin cloud services to model and
simulate infrastructure assets. Furthermore, maintaining a digital replica of assets in the cloud
allows firms to track changes and make appropriate modifications to enhance performance
[20], [21], [22].

Digital twin refers to the digital twin itself, an application that integrates to create a near-real-
time digital replica of the physical environment and process. A digital twin's goal is to detect
unacceptable deviations from ideal circumstances along numerous dimensions. Such a
divergence is a case for business optimisation; either the twin has a logical flaw, or an
opportunity for cost savings, quality improvement, or increased efficiency has been uncovered.
The next opportunity might lead to an action in the physical world. Digital Twin is propelled
by data and analytics [23], [24], [25]. Digital Twin uses data, Machine Learning (ML), and the
IoT to improve the efficiency of systems and enterprises, resulting in improved outcomes
[26,27].

A digital twin is defined in various ways by industry and academics. Some define a digital twin
as an integrated model of an as-built product intended to represent all manufacturing faults and
continuously update to incorporate wear and tear incurred while in use. It is primarily described
as a dynamic digital profile of a physical object's past and current behaviour or process that
aids in optimising business performance. The digital twin is built on various dimensions of
significant, cumulative, real-time, real-world data measurements. These measurements can
result in a developing profile of the object or process in the digital world, leading to actions in
the physical world, such as a change in product design or manufacturing process [28], [29],
[30].
3. What is digital twin technology?
A digital twin is a virtual representation of a physical object (e.g. a wind turbine or car engine)
or environment (e.g. a factory), spanning any stage of its lifecycle, from initial testing to real-
world operation and through to decommissioning.

A virtual replica simulates the behavior of its physical counterpart, gathers information on its
performance to predict how it will act in the future, and even generates possible improvements
in its work [31].

The idea of a digital twin has been circulating since the 1990s. However, it was back in 2002
that the technology rose to greater prominence when Dr. Michael Grieves proposed applying
it to manufacturing, and highlighted how the sector stood to benefit from this sophisticated
tech.

4. How does a digital twin work?

Digital twin technology replicates a physical asset in a virtual environment and utilizes real-
time data about various aspects such as temperature, weather conditions, and so on, received
from smart sensors attached to those physical objects. The data is forwarded to a processing
system and is applied to the digital version of an object.

When modeling and simulating an object, as well as its features and functionality, digital twins
use different technologies to produce a fully-fledged virtual prototype of the asset. These
include the Internet of Things, extended reality (XR), data analytics and artificial intelligence,
and cloud computing. Each tool is responsible for accomplishing certain functions, namely:

• IoT sensors enable the data transmission needed to duplicate a physical object
• Extended reality makes it possible to virtually recreate a physical asset
• Cloud computing stores the received data in a cloud and enables it to be accessed
anywhere anytime
• Data analytics and AI analyze the data received and generate the insights needed to
make predictions and assess the object’s performance.
5. What are the benefits of digital twin technology?

Figure 1. Benefits of digital twin technology

Digital twin technology offers a myriad of benefits, the most outstanding being streamlined
productivity, cost savings, greater safety, enhanced R&D, and more effective cooperation
between teams.

Let’s explore each of these advantages in greater detail.

Streamlined productivity

The simulation capabilities of digital twins make it possible to collect and analyze insights on
assets’ performance and operational issues. This allows technicians to discover what
enhancements need to be made to quickly boost the productivity of physical counterparts, and
reach their peak efficiency.

Cost savings

Digital twins allow companies to test and fine-tune a product before its release without creating
an expensive and time-consuming physical prototype, which consequently leads to significant
cost reductions, significant savings in man-hours, and less downtime.

Greater safety

One of the most important advantages of digital twin technology is that it helps boost safety by
enabling technical specialists to analyze a product and check its security compliance. If
malfunctions are detected in a virtual replica, the technology will generate the insights needed
to fix the defects.
Enhanced R&D

Digital twins empower research and development teams to acquire a more comprehensive
vision of a solution-to-be. The technology helps extract possible outcomes and predict
performance, enabling improvements to be made before the product’s launch.

Effective cooperation

With a digital twin, it is possible to remotely monitor and control the state of physical objects
and sites, without requiring stakeholders to travel long distances to check them. All the
information they need is available on a common cloud-based platform. This results in enhanced
collaboration between different departments and teams and saves them time that they would
otherwise waste traveling to meet up and work on an object.

6. Which industries use digital twin technology?

Industries such as manufacturing, energy & utilities, automotive, construction, and healthcare
have embraced digital twin technology and are making extensive use of it.

Let’s see exactly how they leverage this tech, and how they stand to benefit from its adoption.

Figure 2. Industries using digital twin technology

Manufacturing

In manufacturing, digital twins can be used at different stages of the manufacturing cycle, from
design mock-ups to product testing and post-production maintenance.
The technology can also help manufacturers define requirements, specifications, and guidelines
for suppliers (e.g. the size and shape of a certain part) and even produce customer-required
modifications. Plus, it boasts predictive maintenance capabilities, enabling manufacturers to
anticipate potential issues before they disrupt the entire production.

So far, digital twins have enjoyed widespread popularity among world-renowned

manufacturers, including Unilever. Its renewable energy soap powder production plant located
in Brazil implements digital twins alongside artificial intelligence and machine learning to
develop new processes for laundry powder formulas.

Energy & utilities

Digital twins are leveraged in the energy and utilities domain to enable more sophisticated
project planning and bolster the operational capabilities of various assets such as power-
generation turbines, wind farms, solar projects, and other offshore installations. It can also
assess energy output, temperature, humidity levels, and so on.

Above and beyond this, Siemens has introduced an electrical digital twin aiming to provide
utilities with a single source of truth in order to model data across their entire IT landscape.
The solution facilitates grid simulation across all domains and enables reliable and secure
electrical system planning, operation, and maintenance.

Automotive

The automotive sector makes use of digital twin technology to design and test software,
mechanical, and electrical components of both electric and conventional cars, and to easily
verify their inter-system processes. By using IoT sensors, a digital twin also provides visibility
into a vehicle’s engine performance, gear management, and air conditioning efficiency, while
determining its maintenance needs and analyzing fault recurrences.

Automotive giants the world over have been eager to adopt digital twin technology in their
processes. The list includes popular names such as Renault, Audi, and Mercedes.

Construction

Construction businesses can use digital twins to better plan and design residential, commercial,
and infrastructure projects as well as monitor the state of existing construction sites.

Net-zero technology firm IES, for example, decided to go the extra mile. It cooperated with
Dublin City Council on a digital twin project that was aimed at identifying how social housing
renovation could be efficiently decarbonized.

Healthcare

Digital twins in the healthcare sector are used in several ways, including for medical devices
and human organ simulation. By modeling a virtual replica of a patient’s organ, scientists can
better study diseases, find out how a certain treatment will work, and predict how a patient
might respond to it.
But the range of digital twin use cases in healthcare is not limited to these aspects only. Officials
at UCSF used data-rich, dynamic virtual replicas of buildings to monitor temperature, airflow,
and even the maintenance and location of hospital beds [31].

7. The Working of Digital Twins

To create a digital twin, the engineers collect and collate all kinds of data. This includes
physical, manufacturing and operational data, which is then synthesized with the help of
Artificial Intelligence (AI) algorithms and analytics software. The end result is a virtual mirror
model for each physical model that has the capability of analyzing, evaluating, optimizing and
predicting. It is important to constantly maintain synchronous state between the physical asset
and the digital twin, so that the consistent flow of data helps engineers analyze and monitor it.
The basic architecture of digital twin consists of the various sensors and measurement
technologies, IoT and AI. From a computational perspective, the key technology to propel a
digital twin is integration of data and information that facilitates the flow of information from
raw sensory data to high-level understanding and insights. Digital twins comprise four basic
elements:

• the model that mirrors a real world system

• IoTsensors that transmit data in real time
• Data that helps synchronize the model and the system
• software (like PTC ThingWorx / Vuforia)that monitors and analyses data in a
meaningful way

The key functionality of digital twin implementation through physics based models and data
driven analytics is to provide accurate operational pictures of the assets. The Industrial IoT
system carries out real-time data acquisition through its smart gateway and edge computing
devices. The digital twin thus combines modelling and analytics techniques to create a model
of specific target.

Steps involved in creating a digital twin:

• Physical to digital: Engineers capture all sorts of data from the physical asset with the
help of various sensors and convert it into digital record
• Digital to digital: use advanced analytics, scenario analysis and Artificial Intelligence
(AI) to gain and share meaningful information
• Digital to physical: apply algorithms to translate digital world decisions to effective
data in order to spur action and change in the physical world

A few popular software tools used in India and abroad for this purpose are PTC ThingWorx,
for Industrial IoT and PTC Vuforia for Augmented Reality.

With the converging of digital technologies like AR, VR and AI in IIoT, digital twins are
gaining importance, especially in the context of Industry 4.0. They are drivers of innovation
and performance, providing technicians with the most advanced monitoring, analytical and
predictive capabilities [32].
8. Digital thread
Digital thread was first proposed by Lockheed Martin of the United States. In the production
of F-35, they directly input MBD data into computer numerical control machine tools to
process components, or complete the laying of composite materials through the programming
system, and called this new working mode “digital thread.” The “digital thread” saves 6000
sets of tooling for the three configurations of the F-35. It also eliminates the time required for
the management of these tooling and the configuration of the parts, as well as the time it takes
to distribute the tooling and load it onto the machine.

The US Department of Defense uses digital thread as the most important basic technology for
digital manufacturing. Boeing has already been pushing forward the digital mainline
technology of single data source product to interact. The National Center for Manufacturing
Sciences NCMS (the National Center for Manufacturing Sciences) has confirmed that digital
manufacturing as “one of America’s largest and most potential competitive assets” and as a
key strategy for the future. The digital main line, as its name suggests, is the main theme of
digital manufacturing undoubtedly. The Industrial Internet Alliance does not hesitate to use the
digital thread as key technology that the Industrial Internet Alliance needs to focus on. It is no
exaggeration to say that the digital thread is the key to the revitalization of the US
manufacturing industry.

Figure 3. Principle of digital thread.

The digital thread is a strong connection between OEMs (manufacturers), operation and
maintenance service providers, suppliers and end users. The background generated by the
digital thread is based on the “model-centered,” and the model here is provided with complete
information rich, established in accordance with uniform open standards, norms and semantics
of digital model, and it can be read steadily and unambiguously by the machine (or system).
On this basis, the digital thread integrates and drives the modern product design, manufacture
and guarantee process, allowing the models of each link to timely synchronize and
communicate the key data bidirectionally. The principle is shown in Figure 2. It can be seen in
the design and production process that the parameter simulation model is transmitted to the
product definition of full three-dimensional geometric model and digital line processing into
the real physical product, and then reflected in the product definition model by online digital
detection/measurement system. Then, it is fed back to the simulation analysis model to realize
a two-way data transmission process. The core of the digital line is how to build a collaborative
environment that covers the entire process of product development, so that the unified model
can realize bidirectional flow, reuse, and continuous enrichment of data during all phases of
product development.

The “Industry 4.0” terminology team defines digital thread as: digital data stream of product
design, manufacturing, and assurance, which is constructed with advanced modeling and
simulation tools and cover the whole life cycle and value chain of product, and are integrated
and driven by a unified model from all aspects of basic materials, design, process,
manufacturing, and use and maintenance.

It can be found that digital twin is a concept that is related to and differentiated from digital
thread. Digital twin is a digital representation of a physical product, so that we can see on this
digital product what the actual physical product may be and related technology that includes
augmented reality and virtual reality. Digital thread in the process of design and production,
the parameters of the simulation analysis model can be passed to the product’s full three-
dimensional geometric model, and then transmitted to the digital production line to be
processed into a real physical product, and then reflected in the product definition model
through the online digital detection/measurement system, and it is fed back to the simulation
analysis model, so that the current and future functions and performance of the dynamic and
real-time evaluation system can be realized.

In short, digital thread runs through the entire product lifecycle, especially from the seamless
integration of product design, production and operation, while digital twin, more like the
concept of intelligent products, emphasizes feedback from product operation and maintenance
to product design. It is the digital shadow of physical products. Through integration with
external sensors, it reflects all the characteristics of objects from micro to macro and shows the
evolution process of product life cycle. Of course, not only products but also production
systems (production equipment and production lines) and systems in use and maintenance
should be built as needed [33].

9. Implementation of digital twin technology

9.1. Product design stage

Product digital twin is a hyperrealistic dynamic model of physical products in virtual space. In
order to achieve product digital twin, we must first have a natural (easy to understand),
accurate, efficient digital expression method of data definition and transmission. The method
supports all stages of product life cycle, including product design, process design, processing,
assembly, use and maintenance. The model-based definition (MBD) technology that has
emerged in recent years is an effective way to solve this problem, and therefore it has become
one of the important means for achieving product digital twin. MBD refers to a digital
definition method that attaches all relevant product design definitions, process descriptions,
attributes, and management information to the product’s three-dimensional model. MBD
technology enables product definition data to drive all aspects of the entire manufacturing
process, fully modeling the concept of parallel collaborative design of products and the idea of
a single data source, which is also one of the essence of digital twin. The product definition
model mainly includes two kinds of data: one is geometric information, that is, the product
design model; and the other is nongeometric information, stored in the specification tree, and
the PDM software supporting the 3D design software which is responsible for storing and
managing the data [16].

Secondly, after the product definition based on the 3D model is realized, the process design,
tooling design, production manufacturing process and even product function testing and
verification process simulation and optimization need to be performed based on the model. In
order to ensure the accuracy of simulation and optimization results, at least the following three
points must be guaranteed:

High accuracy and hyperrealism of product virtual model: product modeling not only needs to
pay attention to geometric feature information (shape, size and tolerance) but also the physical
properties of the product model (such as stress analysis model, dynamic model, and
thermodynamics model, and material stiffness, plasticity, flexibility, elasticity, fatigues
strength, etc.). Through the use of artificial intelligence, machine learning and other methods,
based on the historical data of similar product groups to achieve continuous optimization of
existing models, the product virtual model is closer to the functions and characteristics of real-
world physical products.

Accuracy and instantaneity of simulation: advanced simulation platform and simulation

software can be used, such as commercial simulation software Ansys, Abaqus, etc.

Model light-weighting: model light-weighting is the key technology for achieving digital twin.
First of all, the lightweight technology of the model greatly reduces the storage size of the
model, so that the geometric information, feature information and attribute information needed
for product process design and simulation can be directly extracted from the 3D model without
any unnecessary redundant information. Second, the lightweight model makes it possible to
visualize product simulations, simulate complex systems, simulate production lines, and
simulate products based on instant data. Finally, the lightweight model reduces the time, cost,
and speed of information transfer between systems, facilitates end-to-end integration of value
chains, information sharing between upstream and downstream companies in supplies chains,
business process integration, and collaborative product design and development.

4.2. Production stage

The evolution and improvement of product digital twin is through constant interaction with
product entities. In the manufacturing phase, the physical real world delivers production test
data (such as test data, schedule data, and logistics data) to virtual products in the virtual world
and displays them instantly. Product’s model-based production test data monitoring and
production process monitoring are realized (including the comparison of the design value and
the measured value, the comparison of the actual used material characteristics with the design
material characteristics, the comparison of the planned completion schedule and the actual
completion schedule, etc.). In addition, based on the production of measured data, through the
intelligent forecasting and analysis of logistics and schedules, we can realize the prediction and
analysis of quality, manufacturing resources, and production schedules. At the same time, the
intelligent decision module formulates a corresponding solution to the entity product based on
the results of the prediction and analysis, so as to achieve dynamic control and optimization of
the entity product, and achieve the purpose of virtual integration and virtual control.
Therefore, how to achieve real-time accurate multisource heterogeneous data collection,
effective information extraction, and reliable transmission in a complex and dynamic physical
space are prerequisites for achieving digital twin. In recent years, the rapid development of
technologies, such as Internet of Things, sensor networks, industrial Internet, and semantic
analysis and identification, has provided a practical and feasible solution. In addition, artificial
intelligence, machine learning, and data are used to demonstrate the role of digital twin in
product data integration demonstration, product production progress monitoring, product
quality monitoring, intelligent analysis and decision-making (such as product quality analysis
and forecasting, dynamic scheduling and optimization). The rapid development of technology
such as mining and high-performance computing has provided important technical support for
this purpose. Since the assembly line is the carrier for product assembly, the architecture also
considers digital hygienic production and assembly line digital twin. The framework mainly
includes three parts:

Real-time collection of dynamic data in physical space: the dynamic data generated during the
assembly process of the product can be divided into production personnel data, instrument and
equipment data, tooling tool data, production logistics data, production progress data,
production quality data, and actual work hour data. There are eight categories of data for
reverse problems. First of all, for the manufacturing resources (production personnel,
equipment, tooling, materials, AGV, pallets), combined with the characteristics and needs of
the production site, the use of barcode technology, RFID, sensors and other Internet of Things
technology, manufacturing resource information identification, the manufacturing process
awareness information collection point is designed and a manufacturing object connection
network is constructed in the production workshop to realize the real-time perception of
manufacturing resources. The production personnel data, instrument and equipment data,
tooling data, production logistics data and other manufacturing resources-related data are
classified as real-time sensing data; the production progress data, actual work hour data,
production quality data, and reverse problem data are classified as process data. Real-time
sensing data collection will promote the production of process data. In addition, for the
abovementioned large number of multisource, heterogeneous production data, on the basis of
predefined manufacturing information processing and extraction rules, the multisource
manufacturing information relationship is defined, data identification and cleaning are
performed, and data is finally standardized and packaged and formed a unified data service and
published it externally.

The digital twin evolution of virtual space: by using the unified data service to drive the three-
dimensional virtual model of assembly line and the three-dimensional model of product, the
product digital twin instances and the assembly line digital twin instances are generated and
updated continuously. Assembling line digital twin and product digital twin instances are
associated with real-world assembly lines and physical products, and the data exchange
between each other is achieved through a unified database in virtual space.

Status monitoring and process optimization feedback control based on digital twin: real-time
monitoring, correction and optimization of product production process, assembly line and
assembly station through historical data of assembly line, excavation of product history data,
and assembly process evaluation technology through the comparison of real-time data and
design data and planning data, the comparison of product technology status and quality
characteristics, real-time monitoring, quality forecasting and analysis, advance warning, and
production scheduling optimization are realized, so as to achieve closed loop feedback of
product production process and bidirectional connection between control and virtual reality.
Specific functions include real-time monitoring of product quality, product quality analysis and
optimization, real-time monitoring of production lines, real-time monitoring of manufacturing
resources, optimization of production scheduling, and optimization of material distribution.

9.3. Product service stage

During the product service (product use and maintenance) stage, the status of the product still
needs to be tracked and monitored in real time, including the physical space location, external
environment, quality status, usage status, technology, and functional status of the product. The
actual status, real-time data, use and maintenance of recorded data predict and analyze the
health, life, function and performance of the product, and provide early warning of product
quality issues. At the same time, when the product fails and has quality problems, it can realize
rapid positioning of product physical location, fault and quality problem records, parts
replacement, product maintenance, product upgrade and even scrapping and decommissioning.

On the one hand, in the physical space, using the Internet of Things, sensor technology, mobile
Internet technology, the measured data related to physical products (the latest sensor data,
location data, external environment sensing data, etc.), product usage data and maintenance
data are mapped to the product digital twin in the virtual space.

On the other hand, in the virtual space, the model visualization technology is used to realize
the real-time monitoring of the physical product usage process; combining with historical data,
historical maintenance data and related historical data of the same type of products, the
continuous optimization of product model, structure analysis model, thermodynamic model,
product failure and life prediction and analysis model is realized by using machine learning
data mining methods and optimization algorithms; it makes the product digital twinning and
prediction analysis model more accurate, and the simulation prediction results more in line
with the actual situation. For physical products that have experienced faults and quality
problems, traceability and simulation techniques are used to quickly locate quality problems,
cause analysis, solution generation, and feasibility verification. Finally, the final results
generated are fed back to the physical space to guide the product quality troubleshooting and
tracing. Similar to the product manufacturing process, the implementation framework of digital
twin in the process of product service mainly includes three parts: data collection in physical
space, digital twin evolution in virtual space, and state monitoring and optimization control
based on digital twin [33].

10. Building blocks of digital twin

A digital twin implements a virtual representation of an IoT-connected entity used to provide

situation awareness that helps improve business decision making and outcomes. Digital twins
can be implemented for things such as equipment, processes, and organizations, as well as for
people. At a minimum, digital twins always monitor things, but digital twin data is often
analysed to predict future state, and at times is also used to simulate the behaviour of physical
things, processes, or people. Every digital twin design includes the following four basic
building blocks:

• Entity metadata — Information to describe the twinned object, including its physical
components, how they’re assembled, the object’s behaviour and specifications.
• Generated data — IoT sensor-based time-series data, external contextual data, and
whatever other data is used by analytical models.
 • Analytical models — Software algorithms that ingest generated data and produce
events which increase situation awareness.
• Software components — Application logic, visualization tools and other functionality
to act, based on events produced by analytical models.

Digital twin software executed in a distributed runtime compute environment includes these
additional technical elements:

Digital Twin Reference Model — Four Major Building Blocks

• Data sources — Any form of information used as input into a digital twin’s entity
metadata or as input into a digital twin’s generated data.
• Digital twin enabling technology — Whatever application infrastructure middleware is
used for digital twin software development and runtime.
• Related applications — Business applications — e.g., manufacturing execution
systems, supply chain planners, ERP — that are integrated with digital twins to make
them act on events generated by digital twin analytics.

10.1 Entity Metadata

Entity metadata is whatever identifying (not state) information we need for an object that we
have twinned. The amount of metadata detail needed varies widely, in part based on who needs
it. A key challenge for digital twin designers is producing entity metadata models that are
“right-grained,” that is, neither too fine-grained. The key to success is correctly anticipating
the minimally viable resolution of data required to support decision making. Another challenge
is choosing what data to manage within the digital twin software versus what data may already
be managed within existing applications, building information modelling. At times, metadata
will be divided between digital twins and other business applications, and thus integration will
be needed to keep metadata synchronized. To avoid data becoming obsolete, policies will be
needed to ensure that digital twin metadata is updated when changes occur.

10.2 Generated Data

Generated data is whatever state (not identifying) information we need about an object that we
have twinned. In IoT-enabled digital twins, sensors generate IoT time-series data for “twinned”
objects to support analytics. IoT time-series data is time-stamped, name/value pairs of state
information. All generated data must be normalized (e.g., temperatures converted to Celsius)
and stored for use by a digital twin’s runtime analytics and software.

A key challenge is to avoid collecting too little data — which creates gaps or errors in
monitoring and analysis — or too much data — which can obfuscate whatever data matters.
Successfully collecting the right data is a technical and organizational challenge. It is a
technical challenge because data can be processed, for example, either on the edge or in the
cloud. Which approach you choose can impact computing and network capacity and complicate
integration. It is an organizational challenge because your data scientists and operations staff
must collaborate to identify which generated data must be collected, and at what cadence, to
achieve the desired outcomes.
10.3 Analytical Models
Analytical models are virtual representations of the behaviour of twinned entities that improve
situational awareness. These models capture the business purposes of the digital twin. To
provide such insights, the models must include representations of key features, critical
variables, and describe those features and variables as algorithms. Depending on the scope of
the digital twin and affected business cases, the algorithms might be based on mathematical
representations of physics for a physical system, or economics for financial systems, or
behaviour of organizations. The output results from the series of digital twin data-fed
computations resulting from operations carried out on systems of interconnected mathematical
relationships called “systems models.” This mathematical engine can train machine learning
algorithms to accelerate the speed at which digital twins can guide business decisions about the
paired entities.

Analytical models are approximations of true behaviour. The predictions and recommendation
coming from these analytical models should be studied and considered. Contingencies should
be planned and made available in case the outcome of analytical models is wrong. At their
greatest value, they are a learning tool that can be successively refined over time with
experience using them.

Making a highly detailed granular analytical model can be very expensive and time-consuming.
Adding too much detail can introduce significant errors. Conversely, creating overly simplistic
analytical models will filter out important behaviours that also produce misguiding results.
“Rightsizing” analytical models comes with experience and the discipline to understand the
reasons for bad outcomes and continually improve upon those.

10.4 Software Components

Software components choreograph data ingestion, analytics, event generation, and — if needed
— any visualization and workflow (for automating business responses). Digital twins are
typically designed to achieve specific outcomes and are implemented as collections of fit-for-
purpose software components (e.g., separate digital twins for equipment, people or processes)
that are incrementally improved over time to expand their precision and capabilities.

This fit-for-purpose, incremental approach to software delivery is a natural characteristic of an

emerging future of application design approach that we call “Composable Enterprise.” In that
architecture, digital twins play the role of “packaged business capabilities” (PBCs). In a
composable enterprise, digital twins are integrated (composed) with other PBCs, representing
business capabilities of enterprise applications.

A successful digital twin relies on smart technology and an in-depth knowledge of physical
assets—but it also requires leadership, credibility and vision. Solutions provided by us helps to
overcome challenges, identify new opportunities, and make informed decisions more quickly,
and also help to contribute to a better and more sustainable society, tackling issues like
urbanisation, environmental sustainability, and the pressing need for clean water and improved
sanitation [34].
11. Drivers and enablers

The implementation of a Digital Twin is led by drivers and enablers. These are factors initiating
the adoption to happen and what makes it progress and succeed. Drivers and enablers are early
implementation efforts and will constitute key characteristics of DigitalTwin initiatives (Vieira
et al., 2022, p. 252). While enablers are the variables that make digital twin implementation
feasible, drivers are the causes and forces that motivate busi- nesses to initiate and fully
implement it (Neto et al., 2020, p. 211).

The following section is divided into five subsections that represent the main findings of what
drives and enables the Digital Twin according to existing literature. As not all literature
distinguishes these terms, they will here be presented together.

11.1 Data access

Silo architecture is affecting the information flow, leading to restricted data availability.
Having a Digital Twin to connect and integrate multiple data sources results in increased access
to data. Such data access will enrich the organization with descriptions of the current and
historic states of a system, reflecting trends in all areas (Chabanet et al., 2022, p.3; Chircu et
al., 2023, p. 6751).

Werner et al. (2021) state that connectivity, modularity, and autonomy are key enablers of
Digital Twins (p. 129). Furthermore, data access is also what enables a successful DT, as the
correlation between structured and unstructured data is required (Cameron et al., 2018, p. 9).
However, it is essential that the data is available and open to building such a system (Chircu et
al., 2023, p. 6751).

Neto et al. (2020) identified process improvement initiatives as an internal driver to- ward
Digital Twin projects. Data access will contribute to improving processes where increased
information transparency and availability will result in better productivity and quality
enhancements as well as reduced costs (p. 212).

11.2 Follow the trend

Trends often become a significant factor in why individuals and organizations act as they do.
In addition to attending conferences and following news outlets on technological de-
velopment, trend-spotting activities can also be a part of a company’s strategy (Broo &
Schooling, 2021, p. 6). Following trends can be a positive driver in many ways, especially
within technology as the industrial revolution progress and companies are forced to follow.
Otherwise, technical debt could be a consequence. Assets that are aging will be a costly affair
for society, as well as affecting the environment and the overall sustainability of the planet
(Broo & Schooling, 2021, p. 1).

A trend can be categorized as an external driver, where the outside environment and
competitors influence your direction. As a result of Digital Twins' rising popularity, the concept
has become a buzzword, and organizations are driven towards the implementation in order to
keep up with the global trend (Neto et al., 2020, p. 212).

11.3 Competition

Möhring et al. (2022) state that Digital Twins are one of the most important technologies
enterprises should adopt to stay competitive (p. 229). Competition in the market is considered
a key driver for motivating firms to cause the Digital Twin initiative. The constant flow of
smarter technologies creates an ever-increasing level of business competition, which pressures
firms to chase solutions that reduce costs and improve quality and productivity (Neto et al.,
2020, p. 212). With Industry 4.0, digitization for optimizing processes and products is
considered the key to success in strategic planning. Thereby,Digital Twins are suggested as the
best solution for a successful digital transformation journey in industrial processes and
businesses (Jawad et al., 2022, p. 2).

11.4 Technologies
Digital Twin has several enabling technologies that assist the visualization process and the
collection of data. Some of the key enablers mentioned by experts are simulation, Internet of
Things (IoT), and cybersecurity (Neto et al., 2020, p. 213). For the built environment, BIM is
seen as an important enabler for the visualization and further development of Digital Twins
(Vieira et al., 2022, p. 253). Other enablers for DT could be different technologies that allow
it to move forward. Serbulova (2021) mentioned that the increasing demand for Digital Twin
technologies is growing with the development of related technologies like industrial IoT, Cloud
technologies, Virtual Reality (VR), and Augmented Reality (AR) applications (p. 8).

11.5 People and culture

The implementation of changes in a company will never be successful if the employees resist.
Thus, people are seen as a primary driver in bringing about organizational transformation.
People and their competence are also what enables the adoption of Digital Twin, as qualified
staff with the skillset to manage and communicate the new technology are needed (Möhring et
al., 2022, p. 18; Neto et al., 2020, p. 214). Furthermore, general challenges within the
organizational landscape must be addressed (Möhring et al., 2022,p. 235). The organizational
culture must contain strong leadership, hence the managerial commitment to long-term
projects, as well as top management support and the capacity to make financial investments
(Neto et al., 2020, p. 214). Moreover, it is important to remember that the Digital Twin should
not be limited to one organizational location or domain (Meierhofer et al., 2021, p. 6; Möhring
et al., 2022, p. 235). It is therefore critical to investigate and involve related stakeholders as
they can be decisive for success or failure, as well as collaboration between the different
organizational units. Successful implementation of Digital Twins is enabled by good
interdisciplinary and cross-organizational collaboration (Meierhofer et al., 2021, p. 6; Möhring
et al., 2022, p. 235) [35]

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