Model, shadow and twin
The words are used loosely, but a useful distinction is the direction of the data. A digital model is built by hand and is not connected to the real thing. A digital shadow receives live data from the real thing. A digital twin also lets decisions made on the copy flow back, for example by adjusting a setting on the real machine.
What you need to build one
Three things: sensors or data feeds that describe the real asset, a model that represents how it behaves (from a simple 3D layout to detailed physics), and a way to keep the two in step. How useful the twin is depends on how good the data and the model are, not on how impressive it looks.
What twins are used for
Teams use them to watch a plant or building in one place, to test a change or a failure on the copy before touching the real thing, to predict when a part will need maintenance, and to train staff safely. Wind turbines, factories, ports, hospitals and telecom networks are common examples.
Where it is used
- Plants and factories Watching a line in one place and testing a layout change before building it.
- Buildings Tracking energy use and comfort across floors.
- Machines such as turbines and engines Predicting when a part will need service.
- Networks and cities Testing the effect of a change or a failure on the copy first.
A digital twin compared with a simulation, a 3D model and a digital thread
A 3D model shows what something looks like. A simulation runs a model to ask what would happen. A digital twin is tied to one real asset and kept up to date with that asset’s data. A digital thread is the connected record of an asset’s life, from design to service, which a twin can draw on.
A project often needs several of these. The twin is the one that mirrors a real thing as it is now.
Key terms
- Digital shadow
- A copy that receives live data but does not send decisions back.
- Telemetry
- Readings sent automatically from sensors or machines.
- Synchronisation
- Keeping the virtual copy in step with the real one.
- Predictive maintenance
- Using data to estimate when a part will need service.
Common questions
Is a digital twin the same as a simulation?
- A simulation runs a model of something. A twin is tied to one particular real asset and receives its live data, so it follows that asset over time.
Does a digital twin have to be 3D?
- No. Many are dashboards and data models with no 3D view. A 3D view helps when location and layout matter.
How accurate is a digital twin?
- As accurate as its sensors and model allow. It should be checked against reality regularly and its limits stated.
Sources and further reading
Independent pages we checked while writing this guide. They are not Reinnder products, and Reinnder is not affiliated with them.
Reinnder’s angle
How Reinnder looks at digital twins
Reinnder Cloud & Software is planned to include twins that stream live data into models of sites and plants.
This guide explains the technology in general terms. It is not advice, and it does not describe a Reinnder product on sale.