Digital twins policy position paper
A Digital Twin (DT) is a “virtual model of an object, a system, or a process. It is connected to its real-world counterpart by a 2-way flow of right-time data, meaning it mimics it in all aspects.” (National Digital Twin Centre, 2023). They are used across all sectors and all parts of life so that we are able to test decisions before we make them and understand how different actions might affect the real world. For example, there are models which make predictive proposals (the forecast) based on feeding the current weather into a model based on historical weather data. Despite the many benefits of adopting these technologies, there are challenges to adoption, including initial cost and interoperability of data between systems.
Recommendations
- Digital Twins adoption: The Government should continue to make use of best practice in DT technology to help support changes to national infrastructure, healthcare, new housing and energy targets and other sectors to ensure taxpayers money is used optimally and the final product is efficient and resilient.
- Clear understanding: The National Digital Twin Centre will be pivotal in outlining case studies and blueprints for good practice and standardised definitions, frameworks and/or guidance, which is something that professional organisations can support.
- Systems approach: A systems-wide approach that encourages early integration of digital twins and communication between digital and real-world engineers is required to maximise DT benefits for all and provide greater interoperability. The government should emphasise a systems-approach in its cases of DT best practice.
- Skills: Skills in this area are not specific to digital twins, as they require skills from a range of engineering disciplines. The ability of employers to adopt a systems approach to DT integration is also limited due to a digital skills gap – an IET survey on digital skills showed that half of engineering employers report digital skills issues in the labour market, leading to reduced productivity and growth (IET; 2023, Sustainability skills survey – summary).
- Clear labelling: The IET recommends that the Government should champion standardisation in this area through procurement and the Digital Twin Centre and the Digital Catapult.