--- title: BIM vs Digital Twin Technology description: Digital Twins are quickly becoming the go-to for creating robust data models about all aspects of a building at various stages of its life cycle. However, astute observers will notice some key similarities between what is now called a Digital Twin of a built environment and BIM or building information modeling software. image: https://blog.thoughtwire.com/hubfs/Media%20Library/Stock%20images/Cities/Smart%20city%20with%20wifi%20icons.jpg --- [![ThoughtWire](https://blog.thoughtwire.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Asset-19/ThoughtWire.png?width=585&name=ThoughtWire.png "ThoughtWire")](https://www.thoughtwire.com/) - [Smart Hospitals](https://thoughtwire.com/smart-hospital-products/) - [Smart Buildings](https://thoughtwire.com/smart-building-products/) - [Technology](https://thoughtwire.com/technology/) - [About](https://thoughtwire.com/about/) - [Resources](https://www.thoughtwire.com/smart-built-environment-resource/) - [Smart Resources](https://www.thoughtwire.com/smart-built-environment-resource/) - [Blog](https://blog.thoughtwire.com) - [News Center](https://blog.thoughtwire.com/news) - [Request a Demo](https://info.thoughtwire.com/demo) #### OverView Our HighIQ Smart Healthcare solution helps optimize the day-to-day lives of doctors, nurses, and clinicians at work. 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[Find Out More](https://www.thoughtwire.com/smart-hospital-products/) #### GET STARTED - ##### [Problems We Solve](https://www.thoughtwire.com/smart-hospital-solutions/problems-we-solve/) Solve your biggest challenges - ##### [Our Solutions](https://www.thoughtwire.com/smart-hospital-solutions/) Make your hospital smarter - ##### [Our Customers](https://www.thoughtwire.com/smart-hospital-solutions/customers/) Who we work with #### PRODUCTS - ##### [EarlyWarning](https://www.thoughtwire.com/smart-hospital-products/early-warning-application) Better predict patient deterioration - ##### [SynchronizedOps](https://www.thoughtwire.com/smart-hospital-products/synchronized-ops-application) Improve efficiency to reduce wait times - ##### [RapidResponse](https://www.thoughtwire.com/smart-hospital-products/rapid-response-application/) Respond to patients faster and better #### Overview Our HighIQ Smart Buildings solution empowers building owners and occupants to take control of their space. Find the right solution for your commercial building. [Find Out More](https://www.thoughtwire.com/smart-building-products/) #### GET STARTED - ##### [The Problems](https://www.thoughtwire.com/smart-building-solutions/problems-we-solve/) Solve your biggest challenges - ##### [Our Solutions](https://www.thoughtwire.com/smart-building-solutions/) Make your building smarter - ##### [Our Customers](https://www.thoughtwire.com/smart-building-solutions/customers/) Who we work with #### PRODUCTS - ##### [PrecisionHub](https://www.thoughtwire.com/smart-building-products/precision-hub/) Optimize building operations - ##### [@Work](https://www.thoughtwire.com/smart-building-products/at-work-application/) Improve tenant experience #### Overview Built using a super-fast graph database, our Digital Twin technology is at the heart of our applications. [Download e-book](https://info.thoughtwire.com/fp-opm-application-digital-twin-technology-ebook) #### GET STARTED - ##### [Overview](https://www.thoughtwire.com/technology) Connecting people and spaces for smarter built environments. - ##### [Digital Twin Technology](https://www.thoughtwire.com/technology/digital-twin/) What is a Digital Twin? - ##### [Core Services & Connectors](https://www.thoughtwire.com/technology/platform-services) The foundation for smart built environments #### OVERVIEW At ThoughtWire, we’re on a mission to create Smarter Spaces by using powerful Digital Twin Technology to bring Built Environments to life. [FIND OUT MORE](https://www.thoughtwire.com/about/) #### GET STARTED - ##### [Our Leadership](https://www.thoughtwire.com/about/leadership) Dedicated, focused and experienced executive - ##### [Careers](https://www.thoughtwire.com/about/careers/) You belong at Thoughtwire #### Find Out More - ##### [Ambiant Labs](https://www.thoughtwire.com/about/ambiant-labs) Making the art of possible come to life - ##### [News Center](https://blog.thoughtwire.com/news) Keep up with the latest ## [How Healthy and Resilient Is Your Building?](https://blog.thoughtwire.com/how-healthy-and-resilient-is-your-building) by [Christina Piruchta](https://blog.thoughtwire.com/author/christina-piruchta) on March 02, 2021 Top 3 Reasons Your Building’s Intelligence is Key to Your Safe Back-to-Work Strategy How would you feel if your building could assess sanitation and s\[...\] [Read more](https://blog.thoughtwire.com/how-healthy-and-resilient-is-your-building) ## [Poll Results: The Value Smart Buildings bring Occupants, Operators and Owners](https://blog.thoughtwire.com/value-of-smart-buildings-poll-results) by [Frans van Staden](https://blog.thoughtwire.com/author/frans-van-staden) on October 27, 2020 During our recent webinar, we asked our attendees a series of poll questions that cover three themes: 1. What makes a Building Smart, 2. The value a D\[...\] [Read more](https://blog.thoughtwire.com/value-of-smart-buildings-poll-results) ## [Expert Q&A: The Value Smart Buildings bring Occupants, Operators and Owners - Part 2](https://blog.thoughtwire.com/value-of-smart-buildings-part-2) by [ThoughtWire](https://blog.thoughtwire.com/author/thoughtwire) on October 12, 2020 Recently, we hosted a webinar with industry experts from Yorkland Controls, DB Engineering and Multiplex. Below is part two of two excerpts from our e\[...\] [Read more](https://blog.thoughtwire.com/value-of-smart-buildings-part-2) ## [Expert Q&A: The Value Smart Buildings bring Occupants, Operators and Owners - Part 1](https://blog.thoughtwire.com/value-of-smart-buildings-part-1) by [ThoughtWire](https://blog.thoughtwire.com/author/thoughtwire) on October 06, 2020 Recently, we hosted a webinar with industry experts from Yorkland Controls, DB Engineering and Multiplex. Below is part one of two excerpts from our e\[...\] [Read more](https://blog.thoughtwire.com/value-of-smart-buildings-part-1) ## [Evolution of the Real-Time Health System](https://blog.thoughtwire.com/evolution-of-the-real-time-health-system) by [Carly McLeod](https://blog.thoughtwire.com/author/carly-mcleod) on August 18, 2020 Health systems have evolved significantly with technology throughout the years, with each innovation aiming to reach a higher level of transformation,\[...\] [Read more](https://blog.thoughtwire.com/evolution-of-the-real-time-health-system) # Thoughts Over the Wire - [Events (24)](https://blog.thoughtwire.com/tag/events) - [Featured (68)](https://blog.thoughtwire.com/tag/featured) - [Smart Buildings (77)](https://blog.thoughtwire.com/tag/smart-buildings) - [Smart Hospitals (47)](https://blog.thoughtwire.com/tag/smart-hospitals) - [TW Team (31)](https://blog.thoughtwire.com/tag/tw-team) - [TWTurns10 (8)](https://blog.thoughtwire.com/tag/twturns10) [Back to Blog](https://blog.thoughtwire.com) # BIM vs Digital Twin Technology By [Sandy Mangat](https://blog.thoughtwire.com/author/sandy-mangat)19, Mar 2019 Navigating the technology landscape in most industries can sometimes feel like a nightmarish game of mad libs. The jargon can be unending and with the pace of [technological change](https://www.thoughtwire.com/technology/)accelerating every year, it’s no wonder industries are slow to define and articulate best practices. For commercial real estate, the last 5 years have been transformative as organizations start to move beyond mere efficiency of space and start to consider the bigger picture. Integral to this shift has been the importance of data modelling within commercial real estate organizations. As we talked about in a [previous series of blogs](https://blog.thoughtwire.com/how-digital-twin-technology-is-central-to-smart-buildings) that you can read here (or better yet download our[eBook for a comprehensive guide to Digital Twins](https://info.thoughtwire.com/fp-opm-application-digital-twin-technology-ebook)) [Digital Twins](https://info.thoughtwire.com/fp-digital-twin-iot-white-paper) are quickly becoming the go-to for creating robust data models about all aspects of a building at various stages of its life cycle. However, astute observers will notice some key similarities between what is now called a [Digital Twin of a built environment](https://info.thoughtwire.com/what-is-digital-twin-technology) and BIM or building information modelling software. Understandably there has been confusion within the industry about how to differentiate these two important technologies. The confusion in large part comes down to the emphasis of BIM software on physical space represented digitally and Digital Twin’s early definition, a digital replica of the physical world. In this blog we’re going to break down the key differences between Twins and BIM, like does, a Digital Twin have to include CAD? Let’s start with BIM. Like Digital Twins it’s been around since the 1970s. It began as many software projects do - through research! Early researchers like [Chuck Eastman](https://s3.amazonaws.com/academia.edu.documents/31207284/BIM_Handbook_1st.pdf?AWSAccessKeyId=AKIAIWOWYYGZ2Y53UL3A&Expires=1552695006&Signature=bcDCYaG3vNLM0WGVC%2B8aRntx57c%3D&response-content-disposition=inline%3B%20filename%3DBIM_handbook_A_guide_to_building_informa.pdf) began using the term “Building Description System” before it became BIM. Also like Digital Twins, it didn’t hit the mainstream for a few more decades when the likes of Autodesk, Bentley Systems, and others began popularizing it in the early 2000s. The primary goal of BIM in its early research days still holds true, the founding fathers of BIM hypothesized that such a system would be important to contractors of large projects for both a visual and quantitative model of the build. They also figured it would be useful for materials ordering and scheduling. [![ThoughtWire Digital Twin Technology for Smart Buildings](https://blog.thoughtwire.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog%202019/ThoughtWire%20Digital%20Twin%20Technology%20for%20Smart%20Buildings.png?width=600&name=ThoughtWire%20Digital%20Twin%20Technology%20for%20Smart%20Buildings.png)](https://www.thoughtwire.com/technology/digital-twin/) The early hypothesis for BIM holds true. Even today leading providers of BIM software appeal to AECs (architecture, engineers, contractors) by explaining the cost-saving benefits of having a central point of building reference in a 3D digital model. This model makes it easier to collaborate and recalibrate design during in-flight projects. Its benefits include lowering the risk of projects through a reduction in errors, better timeline, and budget management. It sounds quite comprehensive, similar to the Digital Twin yet they differ in a few key aspects. #### **1. BIM is tuned for collaboration and visualization during design & construction, not operations & maintenance** As mentioned above the intent of BIM is not to create a living breathing model of an operational building but help architect and construct that building. The focus for BIM software has been to create a collaborative design and build process that visualizes the physical and functional aspects of a building. With CAD capabilities - visualization in the design and prototyping phase of a new build has been essential for AECs to understand spatial relationships. Unlike a Digital Twin, this physical information model is tuned for [buildings](https://www.thoughtwire.com/smart-building-products/) in flight, not ones occupied and utilized daily - generating data from new devices like [IoT](https://blog.thoughtwire.com/when-every-millisecond-matters-in-iot). #### **2.  Not designed for real-time operational response** Digital Twins are quickly being recognized as the most valuable part of a buildings tech stack - it is a comprehensive picture of your built environment in [real-time](https://info.thoughtwire.com/thoughtwire-digital-twin-brochure). A [Digital Twin](https://www.thoughtwire.com/technology/digital-twin/) can give you information about the current state of build subsystems, how they are being impacted by occupant behavior when assets like HVAC or lighting might fail and much more. It is is a model that evolves over time to deliver more value with each new stage of the asset's lifecycle. BIM is a key data input for any Digital Twin but BIM alone cannot answer the operational questions facility managers may have about [optimizing operations](https://blog.thoughtwire.com/next-gen-building-os). #### **3. It’s only focused on buildings - not people** According to Gartner the next evolution of the [Digital Twin](https://blog.thoughtwire.com/what-does-it-mean-to-be-digital-twin-enabled) will see use cases moving beyond just assets to include entire organizations or the Digital Twin of an Organization ([DTO](https://www.gartner.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2018-10-15-gartner-identifies-the-top-10-strategic-technology-trends-for-2019)). This means [people, process, and behaviors will also be important data sources](https://www.thoughtwire.com/smart-building-solutions/problems-we-solve/)that give [Digital Twins](https://blog.thoughtwire.com/how-are-digital-twins-being-used-in-smart-buildings) even more context about the built environment. If [trends in CRE](https://blog.thoughtwire.com/3-trends-pushing-cre-toward-smart-building-enlightenment) continue to gravitate towards [understanding occupants and competing on workplace experience](https://www.thoughtwire.com/smart-building-products/at-work-application/), the Digital Twin will certainly supersede BIM software even at the design and build phase of an asset's lifecycle. As we begin to build things with people and flexibility in mind our building information models will also need to evolve to include behavior patterns of people and space design that [accommodates their wellness](https://info.thoughtwire.com/fp-product-update-oct19). Again, BIM alone cannot achieve these outcomes. Visit our website to [find out more about ThoughtWire's Digital Twin Technology](https://www.thoughtwire.com/technology/digital-twin/) or [download our eBook](https://info.thoughtwire.com/fp-opm-application-digital-twin-technology-ebook)to learn how you can [bring your building to life](https://info.thoughtwire.com/why-smart-building-technology-is-changing-the-landscape-of-commercial-real-estate-cre).  [Schedule a Demo](https://info.thoughtwire.com/demo) to see our [Smart Building](https://www.thoughtwire.com/smart-building-products/) Suite of applications in action.  [Back to Blog](https://blog.thoughtwire.com) ### Schedule a Demo ## [![demo-cta](https://blog.thoughtwire.com/hs-fs/hubfs/demo-cta.png?width=250&name=demo-cta.png)](https://info.thoughtwire.com/demo) ### Make Your Building Smarter, Safer and more Efficient    ### eBook - Transform your Building with a Digital Twin [![Digital Twin eBook](https://blog.thoughtwire.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Asset%20Cover/Digital%20Twin%20eBook.jpg?width=3503&name=Digital%20Twin%20eBook.jpg)](https://info.thoughtwire.com/fp-opm-application-digital-twin-technology-ebook)  ### Download our Digital Twin Brochure: A Guide to improving building operations and enhancing workplace experience. 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