iTwins and IoT

Why iTwins and IoT?

Integrating IoT with iTwins creates a powerful, data-driven ecosystem that transforms asset management. By embedding IoT sensors into physical assets, real-time data is continuously captured and fed into the iTwin Platform. This connection allows teams to visualize asset conditions, predict potential failures, and make smarter decisions to optimize operations. Ultimately, this integration turns iTwins into living, breathing entities that guide the future of infrastructure.

Key scenarios

Real-time asset monitoring

By embedding IoT sensors into infrastructure assets, organizations can monitor conditions like temperature, pressure, vibration, and more, in real-time. The IoT data feeds directly into iTwins, allowing users to monitor asset health and performance continuously. This dynamic data helps identify potential issues, ensuring early interventions before problems escalate.

Example 1 - An iTwin of a bridge with IoT sensors that monitor structural integrity, detect vibrations and trigger maintenance alerts in real-time.

Predictive maintenance

Analyzing data from IoT sensors within the iTwin Platform reveals patterns and anomalies that help predict when an asset may fail. This proactive approach allows teams to perform maintenance based on data insights rather than waiting for an issue to occur, reducing downtime, ensuring safety, and extending the asset's life cycle.

Example 2 - Yuba Water Agency integrates 83 sensors in their iTwin of a dam to detect defects and enhance safety in flood-prone areas.

Sensor management and insights

Integrating data from diverse IoT sensors can be complex, but iTwins simplify the process with a unified platform. Using the Sensor Data API, teams can consolidate data from multiple sources for real-time analysis and monitoring. Once integrated, users can visualize the asset’s sensor data using iTwin IoT on a unified dashboard, enabling informed, data-driven decisions.

Example 3: A dashboard displaying the cumulative data from multiple vibration sensors on an iTwin of a public bridge.

Time series data analysis

IoT sensors generate large volumes of data, which, when aggregated, reveal valuable insights into asset behavior over time. Using the Sensor Data API and iTwin IoT, this data can be visualized within the iTwin Platform, allowing teams to track trends, identify patterns, and make data-driven decisions. By analyzing historical data, teams can predict potential issues, improve long-term planning, and ensure asset health.

Example 4: A dashboard for Yuba Water Agency’s dam displays time-series data on pressure, temperature, and key metrics, acting as a real-time health report for the asset.

Alerts and notifications

Asset management often involves responding to critical issues quickly to prevent costly damage. With iTwins, alerts can be set up to trigger automatically when IoT sensors detect anomalies or when assets exceed predefined thresholds. These real-time notifications, allow teams to intervene early, ensuring timely actions are taken before issues escalate.

Example 5: An iTwin of a roadway triggers an alert when excessive CO levels are detected by a tunnel air sensor.

Summary

By integrating IoT with iTwins, organizations can transform asset management through real-time updates, predictive maintenance, and advanced analysis. Continuous monitoring, early alerts, and data-driven insights empower teams to manage infrastructure proactively. Whether it's a bridge, a building, or an entire fleet of assets, IoT and iTwins provide a powerful solution for long-term asset success.

Featured APIs

Sensor Data API

Integrate data from diverse IoT sensors into the iTwin environment for real-time insights.

iTwins API

Create and manage iTwins, enabling digital twin management across projects and assets.

Featured tutorials

Sensors in iTwin IoT asset – Essentials

Create, update, and delete devices and sensors in the sensor data service.

Create & Query iTwins

Learn how to create and query iTwins.

Was this page helpful?