Focus on BIM and Digital Twin technologies

Deep dive in the technology BIM & Digital Twin. Let's explore the Pulse Core solution with Maikel Nabuurs, Head of Digital Assets and Data Management at SPIE Nederland, and take inspiration from a selection of projects developed by our subsidiaries. All springboards for innovation!

Building Information Management (BIM) is a process involving the generation, storage, and management of digital representations of physical and functional characteristics of physical assets. BIM facilitates communication, collaboration, and decision-making among project stakeholders. Digital Twins are virtual replicas of physical assets, processes, or systems which can be used for simulation, analysis, and verification. They enable real-time monitoring and predictive maintenance, enhancing operational efficiency.

How would you say PULSE Core add value to your work?

Digital tools like PULSE Core add immense value by improving efficiency, access to information, communication, collaboration, data analysis, and flexibility. We can work more productively and effectively, creating new opportunities for value-creation on behalf of our customers – for instance by making buildings more sustainable, healthier, and safer. Moreover, these tools help us advance in the asset management value chain. The data helps us understand our customers and their buildings, paving the way for lifelong partnerships.

In what specific ways has this platform changed your daily routine or workflow?

Quite a few! We’ve improved in terms of efficient planning and communication, data-driven decision-making, remote troubleshooting, and predictive maintenance. Overall, the platform helps streamline processes, reduce administrative tasks, and minimise human errors. This benefits both us and our customers. We can identify trends and patterns by collecting and analysing data on building usage, energy consumption, operational costs, occupancy, and utilisation.

As a result, our customers can make strategic decisions to enhance the value and performance of their buildings.

Discover a selection of initiatives using BIM & Digital twin

3D To prefab - Belgium

Having adopted 3D models, the HVAC GEEL division of SPIE Belgium streamlines project planning by prefabricating parts of technical installations ahead of time, in the well managed conditions of a workshop, for on-site assembly. This project is in an optimising stage.

BIM in Virtual Reality (VR) - France

The BIM Hololens headset allows employees in the field to view full-scale BIM models directly on-site without the need for physical markers. Users can seamlessly navigate the site as the headset automatically and continually recalibrates the models in mixed reality, providing a more meaningful experience while facilitating a wide range of tasks. This initiative is at the production stage.

DeepUp - Germany

The City Networks & Grids unit is testing DeepUp to address the challenges of documenting underground infrastructure. This solution combines hand-held 3D scanners with satellite-based precision and georeferencing, making it possible to generate standardised 3D documentation and a digital twin during the installation of cables and/or pipes, instead of documenting them afterwards. This initiave is at the Proof of Concept (PoC) and pilot stage.

Vision for Towerco - France

SPIE France is enhancing predictive maintenance on telecommunications towers by combining drones, AI, and digital twins.

The result: fewer risks for technical personnel, and maximised infrastructure availability.

Data-Driven Maintenance (DDM)

The DDM process combines industrial customers’ data resources to identify improvements in maintenance and production, optimise parameters, or even offer algorithmdriven condition-based maintenance.

Digital monitoring of substations - Germany

In 2018, the High Voltage division had the idea of optimising the operational management of substations by retrofitting targeted digital monitoring technology, leading to a pilot project in partnership with service provider HESOTECH.
The resulting digital monitoring solution consists of a patented DocuCam monitoring system linked to a digital twin of an existing 110 kV substation, complete with image recognition features to interpret visual and thermal images. This initiative is now at a scaling stage. Thus, Digital Monitoring adds comprehensive capabilities to existing power plant substations without requiring major installation work.