Digital Twin for Infrastructural Risk Analysis
Digital Twin was introduced as the building block behind the week’s block — information. IBM describes digital twin as “the virtual representation of a physical object or system across its life-cycle.” Digital twins of complex systems such as aircraft engine, bridges, and infrastructures can be developed that operates throughout the life of such systems. IBM goes on to say that a digital twin “uses real-time data and other sources to enable learning, reasoning, and dynamically recalibrating for improved decision making.” In other words, various kinds of data are collected by different mechanisms, which are then processed in real-time to derive insight to make better judgment.
Formulating a Digital Twin
The workshop related to selection of an infrastructure and understanding of risks associated with the infrastructure. Similarly, the team identified different kinds of data that can be collected to develop the digital twin of the infrastructure, the analysis that can be done using the data, and techniques to visualize and communicate the data.
Context of Study
The team selected a courthouse located in Nepal as the infrastructure of the study. Nepal is home to numerous castles, palaces, house, and buildings that are over 200 years old. Many magnificent palaces such as the Sheetal Niwas, the official residence of the president, and Singha Durbar, the complex that houses the federal government of Nepal were built in the 1800s. Many Hindu temples and Buddhist stupas that are built hundreds of years ago are also scattered throughout the country.
Nepal lies in the fault lines where the Eurasian tectonic plate collides with the Indian tectonic plate. Due to this, Nepal faces the prospect of earthquakes through the year. In January 1934, an earthquake of 8.0 moment magnitude rocked Nepal and northern India killing over 10,000 people. Recently in April 2015, a 7.8 moment magnitude earthquake occurred in central Nepal killing nearly 9,000 people. It triggered various avalanches on Mount Everest. The earthquake was followed by numerous aftershocks, including a 7.3 moment magnitude one in May 2015. The earthquakes destroyed most of the palaces, buildings, temples, and private houses.
Had a digital twin of the infrastructures have been developed and used, it could be used to detect early signs of the tremors of the earthquake. The data could be analyzed in real-time and communicated via various mediums to relevant authorities warning them of an eminent danger. The digital twin can be connected with a real-time evacuation system so that buildings, especially the older ones, can be evacuated on time. Furthermore, the digital twin can also be used to determine where and when reinforcements would be need in a building or other infrastructure.
Data Collection and Analysis
In order to create a digital twin for this castle, we had to ask ourselves what we would like to analyse and what data that are requires for this analyse.
Location with coordinates and geological data so we can investigate the seismic activities and soil conditions around and beneath the castle. This in order to see what type and when reinforcements are needed.
Static data such as height, length and width of the castle to be able to create a 3D-model of the infrastructure, this data will be collected through a drone in order to create a point cloud. The point cloud will also help us determine and analyse the structure for cracks and weak spots. Cracks will be graded after width, length and depth. The worst cracks and weak spots will get sensors to continuously be monitored.
Visualization
To be able to fulfil our goal of communicating where and when reinforcements and reparations are needed, we designed a dashboard presenting the data collected. The dashboard presents, for example, where and when reparations and reinforcements are needed through a 3D model of the infrastructure together with a list of all potential interventions needed. Further, the interventions will be ranked according to how critical it is to perform them to maintain the resilience of earthquakes of the building. Another visualisation on the dashboard plots the seismic activities but also a forecast of the upcoming seismic activity and potential situations where an evacuation alarm will be triggered.
Through visualising the collected data plotted on models and through graphs it will be easier to understand and use for a potential decisionmaker. Thus, the dashboard can act as a decision-making support tool for managing the scenario of an earthquake.
Conclusion
Learning more about Digital Twins and practising to formulate one is something the three of us have found very interesting. Being a relatively new area of practise within infrastructure the usage and possibilities of a Digital Twin seems relatively unexplored, acting as a trigger of creativity and imagination.
Though, formulating a Digital Twin also appeared to be quite a challenge. It is not only relevant to formulate what data is important to collect, but also how to collect this data and to whom and how the data should be presented in order to achieve its purpose. Designing a digital twin definitely appears to be an inter-disciplinary challenge making it extra interesting for this course.
