Digital Twins, BIM and XR: The Trifecta Transforming Space Design and Management

The architectural design, interior design, and real estate industries are experiencing a true revolution with the integration of digital twins, BIM (Building Information Modeling) methodologies, and Extended Reality (XR) technologies. This trifecta not only redefines conception and construction processes but ushers in a new era in the operation, maintenance, and sustainable facility management of spaces. Why is this change so disruptive? How can professionals, companies, and owners take advantage of it?

What is a digital twin and how does it interact with BIM and XR?

A digital twin is a dynamic virtual representation of a physical asset— a building, an interior space, infrastructure— that collects data from sensors, BIM sources, and other systems to simulate, optimize, and predict the behavior of that asset in real time. Unlike traditional BIM models, the digital twin is alive: it learns, evolves, and responds to environmental or operational changes. When combined with immersive XR experiences (Virtual, Augmented, or Mixed Reality), data interaction turns into a powerful tool for decision-making and collaborative visualization.

Key advantages for the real estate and design sector

• Time and cost savings: Enables detection and correction of issues from the design phase to operational maintenance, speeding up deliveries and reducing unforeseen events (source)
• Optimization of sustainability and energy efficiency: Continuous simulation and monitoring help achieve better certifications and reduce operational consumption (see case study)
• Advanced visualization and collaboration: Multidisciplinary teams and even the end client explore the building or interior in XR, identifying challenges before construction or remodeling. Full compatibility with existing BIM models (+ info)
• Improved facility management: Detailed life cycle tracking, maintenance needs prediction, and more efficient adaptation/renovation, even with limited resources and staff (full analysis)

Key integrations: synergy with XR and AI

Leading digital twin platforms already offer natural integration with XR experiences, allowing review of models and installations in shared virtual environments, speeding up team training, and enabling engaging virtual tours for property sales and rentals. Additionally, Artificial Intelligence combined with collected data allows anticipating failures, recommending design alterations, or maximizing energy use. This future is already present in advanced PropTech and smart building developments.

According to the MarketsandMarkets report, the digital twin market will grow from $10.1 billion (2023) to over $110 billion by 2030, driven by its adoption in real estate, facility management, and construction (MarketsandMarkets).

Challenges for adoption and strategic recommendations

• Data standardization: BIM and digital twins require rigorous modeling and continuous updates; interoperability is key.
• Cultural change and training: Collaboration between technical and non-technical departments demands continuous training and digital leadership.
• Initial investment vs. return: While entry costs can be high, they are more than compensated by predictive maintenance, efficiency, and incident reduction (according to BCG, the average return exceeds 20% in less than two years after integrating digital twins into real estate portfolios).

A practical look: How to start and maximize value with AI

For architecture firms, real estate agencies, or owners advancing towards digitalization, starting with well-structured BIM models is essential. From there, digital twin solutions with XR integration can be built in phases, prioritizing the highest value or turnover assets. AI visualization and staging tools, like those offered by Deptho.ai, complement the experience by allowing iteration of versions, simulation of aesthetic or functional changes—and even identifying improvement opportunities that can later be incorporated into the digital twin.

Ready to take the leap? We invite you to explore the virtual staging features of Deptho.ai Fill Room or perform complete transformations in your renders with Redesign, easily integrating your results into your digital workflows.

Looking for more inspiration? We recommend exploring other articles on innovation and tools in our blog, such as The AI visual revolution in interior design and How XR and AI are transforming office design and collaboration.