What Is A Digital Twin?
/ dig•i•tal twin /
noun
A digital twin is an integrated data-driven virtual representation of real-world entities and processes, with synchronized interaction at a specified frequency and fidelity.
- Digital Twins are motivated by outcomes, driven by use cases, powered by integration, built on data, enhanced by physics, guided by domain knowledge, and implemented in dependable and trustworthy IT/OT/ET systems.
- Digital Twin Systems transform business by accelerating and automating holistic understanding, continuous improvement, decision-making, and interventions through effective action.
- Digital Twin Systems are built on integrated and synchronized IT/OT/ET systems, use real-time and historical data to represent the past and present, and simulate predicted futures.
- Digital Twin Prototypes use data to model and simulate predicted futures before being integrated into IT/OT/ET Systems and before synchronization with the real-world entity or process.
The process of developing the definition involved an industry cross-section of digital domain specialists, an extensive review of documentation on the subject, and a stress test of the definition based on real-world use cases. The result is an authoritative definition that leverages our collective established knowledge on the topic, is widely and formally agreed upon, and is validated against practical considerations. Explore more terms from the digital twin ecosystem in our Glossary of Digital Twins.
This initiative: