Digital Twins

From static models to traceable, through-life asset intelligence

What is a digital twin?

A digital twin is a dynamic digital representation of a physical product or asset. It mirrors not just the geometry but also materials, behaviour, configuration, and operational state throughout the lifecycle.

There can be multiple digital twins for different views:

  • Geometry & structure

  • Requirements

  • Cost & pricing

  • Maintenance & performance

A true digital twin reflects a built and deployed individual asset, either uniquely serialised or part of a product family, and evolves over time to reflect changes, usage, and context in the real world.

The challenge: Keeping digital twins up to date

Digital twins are only valuable if they remain current, connected, and consistent.

That means continuously updating them with:

  • Field observations (manual or automated)

  • Sensor and IoT data

  • Changes from manufacturing, maintenance, or operation

For high-volume or complex assets, this requires smart data management and lifecycle coordination across systems, stakeholders, and time.

How PLCS enable digital twins

The PLCS standard (ISO 10303‑239) was developed specifically to support through-life information management of complex assets. Its rich, open data model enables you to:

  • Consolidate structured data across silos and disciplines

  • Track configuration, structure, and behaviour over time

  • Link digital twin views to requirements, documents, and activities

PLCS provides a semantic backbone for building, maintaining, and evolving digital twins—from design and build to operation and beyond.

All rights reserved. (c) BAE Systems

Powering trusted digital twins

Native PLCS capabilities implemented and operationalised in ShareAspace, making digital twin continuity across systems and organisations a reality:

  • Distinguish between design definitions and individual assets
  • Manage multiple BOM views (as-designed, as-built, as-maintained)
  • Model and trace processes applied to the product or asset
  • Link physical and functional breakdowns across structures
  • Support full lifecycle traceability and change history
  • Track property values over time and across views
  • Associate documents, models, and related sub-assets
  • Trace requirements and link to verification and validation

Where ShareAspace adds value

While PLCS defines the model, ShareAspace delivers the platform to:

  • Securely share and govern digital twin data across enterprises

  • Integrate with PDM, ERP, CMMS, and IoT platforms

  • Manage access, licensing, and change across partners

  • Support digital twin enablement in regulated and multi-stakeholder environments (e.g., defence, infrastructure, industry)

Eurostep solutions

Explore ShareAspace

The secure foundation for full lifecycle digital twin collaboration

Recommended reading

Enabling the digital thread with ShareAspace
A Digital Thread is for Life – Not Just Manufacturing
Implementing the digital thread and digital twin with PLCS The Digital Thread is a communication framework that connects traditionally siloed elements in manufacturing processes and provides an integrated view of ...
Getting to a Real Digital Twin by Managing Unstructured and Structured Product Data Using Azure Services and ShareAspace
Managing unstructured and structured product data We are living in the age of digital transformation and IT is becoming an integral part of our lives. Design and engineering of things ...
Building Information Modelling with digital twins and digital thread using ShareAspace
Realizing the BIM Digital Twin and Digital Thread with ShareAspace, IFC, IoT and Azure Services to Support the Data Management Across the Life Cycle of Building and AEC Assets
BIM and the Digital Twin The use of Building Information Models [BIMs] is changing the way the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction [AEC] industries will operate in the future. Data from ...
Understanding the key differences: Digital Thread vs. Digital Twin explained
In today's fast-paced manufacturing landscape, two terms stand out as transformative: Digital Thread and Digital Twin. While they may seem interchangeable, understanding their unique features can empower businesses to create ...
Digital Twins: Key considerations and challenges
Digital twins serve as virtual replicas of physical systems and are increasingly becoming indispensable in industries such as Defence & Aerospace, Manufacturing, and AEC & Plant. However, leveraging them effectively ...
Learn about Technological Innovation Trends of the Future Railway System
Eurostep’s Sylvain Marie to present at STARS Tutorial on Smart Asset Management/Maintenance of the future & Railways Digital Twin
We are excited to announce that Sylvain Marie, Director AEC&Plant industry vertical at Eurostep, will be presenting at the STARS Tutorial on Smart Asset Management/Maintenance of the future & Railways ...
Digital Twin: Key Concepts and Benefits for Asset Management
Key points Digital twins are virtual replicas of physical assets that capture their design, behaviour, and other crucial parameters in real-time. Maintaining digital twins requires real-time monitoring of assets using ...
Webinar: How to connect IoT and BIM to implement the built asset Digital Twin?
Are you struggling with managing and integrating data from your building's IoT sensors? Are you looking for a way to make sense of all the information and make data-driven decisions? ...
digital open lock
Webinar: Digital Twins – How to avoid vendor lock-in throughout an asset or product lifecycle?
How do you keep digital twins up-to-date and avoid vendor lock-in throughout an asset or product lifecycle? In recent years capabilities and platforms to implement digital twins have been increasing ...
Enabling the digital thread with ShareAspace
A Digital Thread is for Life – Not Just Manufacturing
Implementing the digital thread and digital twin with PLCS The Digital Thread is a communication framework that connects traditionally siloed elements in manufacturing processes and provides an integrated view of ...
Getting to a Real Digital Twin by Managing Unstructured and Structured Product Data Using Azure Services and ShareAspace
Managing unstructured and structured product data We are living in the age of digital transformation and IT is becoming an integral part of our lives. Design and engineering of things ...
Building Information Modelling with digital twins and digital thread using ShareAspace
Realizing the BIM Digital Twin and Digital Thread with ShareAspace, IFC, IoT and Azure Services to Support the Data Management Across the Life Cycle of Building and AEC Assets
BIM and the Digital Twin The use of Building Information Models [BIMs] is changing the way the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction [AEC] industries will operate in the future. Data from ...
Understanding the key differences: Digital Thread vs. Digital Twin explained
In today's fast-paced manufacturing landscape, two terms stand out as transformative: Digital Thread and Digital Twin. While they may seem interchangeable, understanding their unique features can empower businesses to create ...
Digital Twins: Key considerations and challenges
Digital twins serve as virtual replicas of physical systems and are increasingly becoming indispensable in industries such as Defence & Aerospace, Manufacturing, and AEC & Plant. However, leveraging them effectively ...
Learn about Technological Innovation Trends of the Future Railway System
Eurostep’s Sylvain Marie to present at STARS Tutorial on Smart Asset Management/Maintenance of the future & Railways Digital Twin
We are excited to announce that Sylvain Marie, Director AEC&Plant industry vertical at Eurostep, will be presenting at the STARS Tutorial on Smart Asset Management/Maintenance of the future & Railways ...
Digital Twin: Key Concepts and Benefits for Asset Management
Key points Digital twins are virtual replicas of physical assets that capture their design, behaviour, and other crucial parameters in real-time. Maintaining digital twins requires real-time monitoring of assets using ...
Webinar: How to connect IoT and BIM to implement the built asset Digital Twin?
Are you struggling with managing and integrating data from your building's IoT sensors? Are you looking for a way to make sense of all the information and make data-driven decisions? ...
digital open lock
Webinar: Digital Twins – How to avoid vendor lock-in throughout an asset or product lifecycle?
How do you keep digital twins up-to-date and avoid vendor lock-in throughout an asset or product lifecycle? In recent years capabilities and platforms to implement digital twins have been increasing ...

Want to learn more?

 Please complete the form and an Eurostep representative will be in touch shortly.