What is a Digital Twin?
A Digital Twin (DT) is a virtual representation of a real building. It combines building data with models that help teams understand current conditions, predict future outcomes, and test better decisions.
- Descriptive models: show what is happening now in a building using current and historical data.
- Predictive models: use AI to estimate what may happen next, such as costs, delays, or maintenance risks.
- Prescriptive models: test "what-if" scenarios so teams can compare options before acting in the real world.
- Generative models: create and explore new solution pathways that may not be obvious through manual planning.
Why We Need Digital Twinning
Digital twinning matters because the building sector faces high pressure and high complexity. Canada has a large building stock, major retrofit needs, and rising expectations for performance and decarbonization.
Traditional asset-management approaches are often reactive and fragmented. Digital twins help teams shift to proactive, data-driven planning that improves service levels, reduces risk, and supports better long-term outcomes.
By testing scenarios virtually before implementation, teams can make more confident decisions, reduce delays and avoid costly rework.
The Opportunity with UofT's Digital Twins
UofT's dataset across ~150 buildings gives us a rare opportunity to build and validate practical digital twin methods. Key strengths include:
- Triangulated data: structured IoT data, unstructured operational records, and contextual building information.
- Operational grounding: close collaboration with facility teams to improve data quality and practical relevance.
- Cross-domain value: useful inputs for energy, air quality, maintenance, and planning research.
- User perspective: stronger inclusion of occupant needs and real-world usage patterns.
Industry demand is growing quickly as organizations face stricter reporting requirements and higher expectations for efficiency. At the same time, success of AI in other sectors shows that strong data practices are now essential, not optional.