Cross sector UK team to outline vision of common protocol for digital twins

Since its launch last month (September 2022) the so-called Apollo Protocol has reportedly been enthusiastically welcomed by digital twin proponents across the manufacturing, construction and the technology sectors.

According to the team behind the project – which includes the IET, The Construction Leadership Council, the High Value Manufacturing Catapult, and others - downloads of a white paper proposing the cross-sector approach to digital twins have  exceeded expectations, and a Network for participants has been set up on the Digital Twin Hub.

Currently, the manufacturing and built environment sectors are developing digital twins separately using different language and business models, yet many of our challenges, such as net zero and economic sustainability, require sectors to work together.

The white paper, published by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), sets out a proposal to unlock the benefits of digital twins between the built environment and manufacturing sectors. It argues for the establishment of The Apollo Forum to explore four key themes: a single value chain for information and data services and requirements; Circular supply chains between the sectors; optimised performance through technology enabled information sharing, and managed human capital and resources between the sectors.