The Uses of Digital Twins
CIC Research Program Project
Description
This work presents a system for the classification of the Uses of Digital Twins. This classification system provides a common language for the Uses of Digital Twins that can be leveraged to communicate the precise purpose and context of implementing Digital Twins. We also provide a library for Digital Twin Operational Uses and Use Cases.
The following structure for the title of a Digital Twin Use Case is developed:
Use Case Title: Digital Twin Use + to + Output + using + Method
Example: Capture conditions to create an energy model using equipment sensors and Deep Learning algorithms
Products Developed
Library of Digital Twin Operational Uses and Their Definitions (if you have an operational use that you don’t see on the list, feel free to submit here: https://forms.office.com/r/gjnjZjec0j)
DT Use Definition Related Terms - Notes
Gather To collect data Collect, Acquire
Capture To collect data along with the metadata Collect, Scan
Capture asset data To capture information about asset(s)
Capture conditions To collect current information about the built environment Capture environmental data
Capture occupant data To collect current information about the occupants or users
Quantify To measure and determine the quantity or numerical value of the object of interest Measure, Calculate
Quantify emissions To measure the current emissions (e.g., Greenhouse gases) from a built asset Calculate CO2 emissions
Quantify energy consumption To measure the energy use of an asset
Locate To identify the location of an asset or a user x
Locate assets To identify the location of an asset
Locate occupants To identify the location of an occupant or user
Generate To create meaningful and machine-readable information from raw data Produce
Transform To process or organize raw data into meaningful information or knowledge that can be used in a digital twin Clean, Structure, Organize
Transform raw data Process raw data into meaningful information
Create To create insightful analytical representation(s) of built asset data Generate, Build
Create prediction model(s) To create a model that can predict the future state of an asset using current or historical data
Create optimization model(s) To create a model that can optimize the functionality of an asset using current or historical data
Create energy models To create a model that analyzes the energy consumption impacts of an asset in different scenarios
Analyze To create insights regarding an asset, user, or built environment using analytical methods Evaluate, Examine, Assess
Analyze conditions To use analytical methods to analyze the current conditions of an asset or the built environment to create insights Analyze air quality - analyze traffic flow - analyze security - Analyze space occupancy
Analyze energy consumption To use analytical methods to analyze energy consumption of an asset or the built environment to create insights
Analyze performance To use analytical methods to analyze the performance of an asset or the built environment to create insights Analyze building wellness - Analyze asset performance - analyze building performance
Analyze occupant data To use analytical methods to analyze occupant or user data create insights *Note: Data could be collected through self-report methods (e.g., satisfaction surveys) or captured through other methods and devices (e.g. occupancy sensors)
Simulate To predict the future state of an asset using current or historical data Predict, Forecast, Foresee
Simulate Conditions To predict the future conditions of an asset using current or historical data Simulate CO2 emissions - Simulate energy consumption - simulate environmental indoor quality
Simulate anomalies To predict the future anomalies of an asset or in a system using current or historical data Simulate equipment failure
Simulate space utilization To predict the future state of space utilization using current or historical data
Simulate performance To predict the future performance of an asset using current or historical data Simulate asset performance - simulate building operations - simulate system health
Simulate what-if scenarios To predict the impact of a hypothetical state or action using current or historical data Simulate security and safety breaches - simulate evacuation procedures - simulate natural disasters (e.g., flood)
Classify To categorize information using current or historical data Categorize
Classify work orders To categorize work orders using current or historical data to inform the relevant personel
Classify anomalies To categorize the identified anomalies using current or historical data
Validate To check or prove the accuracy of information Check, Confirm, Verify
Validate conditions To check the existing conditions against the desired conditions
Detect To establish or indicate what something is Identify
Detect anomalies To detect anomalies in an asset or system that could indicate a malfunction or a hazard Detect faults - Detect cracks - Detect earthquakes -Detect outages and failures - Detect oversize vehicles
Communicate To exchange information between the digital twin and user(s) Exchange
Visualize To create a visual representation of an asset Review
Visualize asset data To create a visual representation of information regarding an asset or built environment Visualize bridge data - visualize load distribution options - visualize anomalies - visualize detected faults - visualize location data
Visualize conditions To create a visual representation of conditions pretaining to an asset, or built enviornment, or its occupants Visualize energy consumption data - visualize traffic flow - visualize occupancy data - visualize environmental conditions
Visualize performance To create a visual representation of Visualize asset performance
Document To create a record of the desired information pertaining to an asset Specify, Submit, Schedule, Report
Document conditions To create a record of information pertaining to an asset or built environment
Document work orders (by building occupants) To create a record of a needed work order to inform the operators of a problem that needs fixed
Document work order completion (by technicians) To create a record of the completion of a work order to inform the facility manager to facilitate operational planning
Interact To engage and communicate with the digital environment x
Interact with user interface To engage and communicate with a digital dashboard to view, retrieve, or manipulate data Interact with user digital dashboard
Inform To provide information to a human or digital controller Augment, Annotate
Inform users To provide information to users from the digital twin to make informed decisions Notify
Realize To control or make changes in a built asset Implement, Execute, Modify, Adjust, Reconfigure
Actuate To translate digital signals into physical actions Activate, Control, Manipulate
Actuate assets To control an asset using digital signals. This could include turning on/off an asset, inititiating an action, or changing the settings
Actuate indoor environment To control the environment using digital signals through IoT sensors or other devices
Construct To create or add to the physical environment through digital control and automation
| DT Compound Use | Single Use - Gather | Single Use - Generate | Single Use - Analyze | Single Use - Communicate | Single Use - Realize |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monitor occupancy | Capture occupancy data | - | Analyze occupancy data | Visualize occupancy data | - |
| Monitor environmental conditions | Capture environmental conditions | - | Analyze environmental conditions | Visualize environmental condtions; inform users | - |
| Monitor security | Capture security data | - | Analyze security data | Inform stakeholders | - |
| Monitor an asset | Capture conditions | - | Analyze conditions | Inform stakeholders | - |
| Monitor space use | Capture space use | - | Analyze space use | Visualize space use | - |
| Monitor building operations | Capture conditions | - | Analyze conditions | Inform users | - |
| Manage assets | Capture conditions | - | Analyze conditions | Visualize conditions | Actuate assets |
| Manage smart home operations | Capture conditions | - | Analyze conditions | Inform users | Actuate assets |
| Manage work orders | Capture work orders | - | Classify work orders | Inform users | - |
| Manage occupant experience | Capture occupant data | - | Analyze occupant data | Inform stakeholders | - |
| Optimize energy consumption | Quantify energy consumption | Create an optimization model | Analyze energy consumption | Visualize energy consumption | - |
| Optimize processes | Capture operation data | Create an optimization model | Analyze optimization options | Inform stakeholders | - |
| Optimize asset performance | Capture operation data | Create an optimization model | Analyze optimization options | Inform stakeholders | - |
| Diagnose faults | Capture conditions | Create a detection model | Detect faults; classify faults | Inform users | - |
| Wayfinding | Locate user | - | Analyze a path to target location | Visualze the path | - |
| Predictive maintenance | Capture conditions | Create a prediction model | Simulate faults | Visualize simulations; inform users | - |
For Further Information
Contact zxg120@psu.edu or jim101@psu.edu
Team Participants
Principal Investigator: Dr. John Messner
Graduate Research Assistant: Zahra Ghorbani
Publications from this Project:
Digital Twin Definition & Categories Paper: https://itcon.org/papers/2024_10-ITcon-Ghorbani.pdf
Digital Twin Use Case Data Schema Paper: https://itc.scix.net/pdfs/w78-2024-paper_20.pdf
Digital Twin Use Case Ontology Paper: https://www.itcon.org/papers/2025_14-ITcon-Ghorbani.pdf