Patterns / Technology Architecture
Digital Twin Architecture
A live, contextualised model of a physical asset or network fed by operational events.
Physical Asset
Telemetry
Asset Model
Analytics
Decisions
Conceptual flow
Problem
Asset decisions are made from static records rather than the current condition of the asset.
Context
Asset-intensive industries with telemetry, maintenance history, and simulation needs.
Solution
Combine an asset model, event streams, historian data, and analytics into a queryable twin that serves both operations and planning.
Benefits
- Condition-based decisions
- Simulation before change
- Shared asset semantics
Risks
- Model drift from reality
- Data volume cost
- Twin scope creep
Trade-offs
- Fidelity against cost
When to use
- Predictive maintenance
- Network planning
- Complex physical operations
When not to use
- Low-value or short-lived assets
Related patterns
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