Digital engineering creates richer information that improves decision-making. Its strength stems from all critical infrastructure asset information and data being intelligently linked and attributed to physical and real-world objects. In this environment, any asset can be created twice - first virtually, then physically.
A digital engineering environment creates and supports a raft of benefits for a range of different stakeholders:
• It means components from one project can be reused on the next. This repeatability drives cost-savings, leading to the creation and operation of more infrastructure for less. This is the cornerstone of concepts such as 'design one - build many', which has had considerable success in other capital-intensive sectors such as manufacturing and oil and gas.109
• It improves confidence in decision-making by creating more intelligently designed infrastructure with fewer risks and increased functionality.
• It enables governments to accurately model how infrastructure will operate into the future when sustainability, climate, resilience and public safety factors are considered. For more information about the role of data and digital approaches in sustainability, see the Sustainability and resilience chapter.
• It enables governments to better understand how infrastructure works as a 'system' or within the environment where it is situated.
• It helps to reduce risk for stakeholders across the supply chain. In turn, this will improve delivery confidence, leading to more collaborative and innovative infrastructure.
In 2016, Infrastructure Australia recommended Australia's governments adopt digital engineering by using BIM.110 Although there are some indications of progress, nationally consistent adoption can be accelerated. All governments stand to benefit significantly, as it will provide a pathway for the rapid uptake of digital twins.