NO STONE UNTURNED: DIGITAL TWINS TRANSFORM REAL ESTATE: FROM DATA-DRIVEN INSIGHTS TO MORE SUSTAINABLE AND EFFICIENT MANAGEMENT

In the latest episode of the podcast No Stone Unturned, Savills speaks with two experts about a technology that is rapidly gaining traction in the property world: the Digital Twin. While it was still considered a promising forecast back in 2022, by 2025 it’s clear that Digital Twins are actively contributing to smarter real estate management, more intelligent urban development, and more sustainable use of space.

What is a Digital Twin?

A Digital Twin is a digital representation of a building or area in which data is collected, analysed and connected. For Julian Rimmer (Director of Digital Practice at M Moser Associates), it’s essentially a data tool that provides insight into how buildings operate: "We collect and analyse data from a multitude of historically siloed sources, providing clients with live and and trended views on how a property, or portfolio of properties is used. This helps our clients make better decisions about planning, occupancy, inclusivity and sustainability, thereby deriving more value from their investment in the workplace.

Jozien van der Wal (Programme Manager Digital Twin at Schiphol Area Development Company) views Digital Twin as an ecosystem of modules: "At SADC, we focus on Broad Prosperity. Whether it’s about ecology, wellbeing or financial value, each module within our Digital Twin offers insight into a specific theme, but everything is interconnected."

From Pilot to Practice

Both M Moser and SADC are well beyond the pilot stage. Julian explains how a major bank is using their Digital Twin to continually optimise its new headquarters in New York: "We monitor which spaces are used or not and why. That leads to concrete adjustments in how the space is utilised."

In SADC’s area development projects, an Ecomonitor is used to assess and improve the ecological value of an area: "We even adjusted the design of a public space after discovering that small changes could significantly boost our ecological score," says Jozien.

Why is this relevant for investors and occupiers?

A Digital Twin provides insight and therefore control. Control over sustainability, efficiency, user experience, and ultimately, value. "For investors, it’s attractive because you can use real estate more effectively, make it more sustainable, and increase its appeal to tenants," Julian says. Jozien adds: "And it helps demonstrate societal value, such as health, biodiversity and wellbeing in a tangible way."

Looking ahead: potential and challenges

Despite the potential, challenges remain. Good data is essential but not always available or accessible. Collaboration between different parties and systems is also key. "Ultimately, we want to move towards digital ecosystems that communicate with each other, from one building to the entire neighbourhood," says Jozien.

The bottom line?

Digital Twins are no longer a vision of the future, they are a practical tool that is increasingly making a real difference. For those wanting to stay ahead in real estate, now is the time to get on board.

🎧 Listen to the full episode of No Stone Unturned on your favourite podcast platform, such as Spotify or Apple Podcasts.