BASF, in partnership with the European Union’s (EU) ‘SPHERE’ project, has launched a new digital twin platform that uses software to enable the virtual replication of buildings, in an effort to increase their energy efficiency, optimize buildings’ life cycles, and reduce overall costs. The ‘virtual twin’ will use a wide range of data on construction methods, design, the production of construction materials & structural elements, as well as the construction process. The project will receive €7.4 million of EU funding; with a total volume of €12.8 million.
The new digital-twin platform is based on BASF’s Building Information Modeling (BIM). “For us, virtual building models represent a key technology for the future conception and design of built structures”, said Philipp Kley, Senior Vice President Construction Chemicals Europe at BASF in a press release. “We want to leverage innovative software technologies to play a leading role with regard to Industry 4.0 in the construction industry.”
“We are very happy to support this EU project with our know-how and, with partners from ten different countries, work on the development and refinement of virtual building models”, continued Olivier Bayard, Regional Business Segment Manager Admixture Systems Europe at BASF. “In this way, we want to contribute to an increased energy efficiency in buildings and to lowering the costs involved in construction projects. Designers and owners benefit from a digital-twin model across all project stages: from planning and design to construction and maintenance to demolition.”
Press Release & Images Courtesy of BASF.