Panel at R-CON examines digital twins’ evolution into enterprise solutions

By Cassidy Mills, Staff Writer

 

Industry and academic leaders discussed how digital twin technologies are evolving from isolated models into integrated systems for enterprise decision-making during the “Current and Future of Digital Twins” panel at R-CON Digital Twins, June 26.

 

R-CON Digital Twins was an industry-focused event exploring the expanding role of digital twin technologies. It was hosted by the Reality Capture Network and held at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in Orlando, Florida.

 

The event brought together professionals from infrastructure, energy, defense, aerospace and academia to examine how digital twins are evolving from isolated prototypes into integrated systems that support enterprise-wide decision-making.

 

Panelists included Soheil Sabri, Ph.D., assistant professor and director of the Urban Digital Twin Lab at University of Central Florida’s (UCF) Institute for Simulation and Training (IST); Phil Bédard, product manager at Prevu3D; Marc Goldman, director of Industry Solutions at Esri; Kurt Scheuringer, principal spatial computing architect at Amazon Web Services; and Michael Hotaling, executive advisor at ExxonMobil.

 

The discussion focused heavily on the shift from static, one-off digital twin models to scalable, enterprise-integrated systems capable of delivering real-time operational insights.

 

Panelists emphasized that organizations must move beyond visualization and embrace data governance, cross-functional collaboration and long-term infrastructure planning to fully realize the value of digital twins.

 

“Digital twins provide an unprecedented opportunity to model the complex dynamics of urban environments in real time,” Sabri said. “This enables cities to optimize infrastructure and improve resilience.”

 

Sabri said digital twins achieve this transformation by continuously collecting and integrating data from various sources, such as sensors, satellite imagery, traffic systems and environmental monitors.

 

“By integrating diverse data streams, urban digital twins transform static city models into living systems that support proactive decision-making and long-term sustainability,” Sabri said. “This integration allows for real-time monitoring and analysis of complex urban processes.”

 

Achieving this transformation requires organizations to shift their mindset from isolated pilots or proof-of-concept projects toward developing integrated digital workflows. Bédard said these workflows unify disparate teams and data sources to ensure technology efforts align with broader strategic objectives.

 

“We’re seeing a major shift in how digital twins are being approached. It’s no longer about solving a single problem in isolation,” Bédard said. “The organizations making real progress are those building digital workflows that connect teams, data sources and long-term business objectives.”

 

The panel also identified several challenges in the adoption and integration of digital twins, particularly in complex environments such as airports or large infrastructure projects.

 

Goldman said interoperability remains a significant hurdle, as these environments involve multiple stakeholders with varied roles and requirements. Understanding who will use the digital twin and ensuring it meets their needs is critical to avoid underutilization or added complexity.

 

“Successful digital twin implementations depend not just on technology but on creating seamless connections between systems and users,” Goldman said. “Bridging these gaps allows organizations to unlock the full potential of their data and drive meaningful collaboration across teams.”

 

Effective digital twin solutions must align with user workflows and support coordination, planning and resource management. Yet many organizations face difficulties in prioritizing issues uncovered by digital twins, emphasizing the importance of tools that simplify rather than complicate operations.

 

Scheuringer recommended an incremental approach to digital twin implementation — focusing first on foundational building blocks rather than attempting to deploy a comprehensive ecosystem immediately.

 

“Starting small allows organizations to prove value early, refine workflows and build stakeholder confidence before scaling up,” Scheuringer said. “Rushing to deploy a full system can lead to missed opportunities and implementation fatigue.”

 

Data quality and transparency were highlighted as critical factors for maintaining user trust. Sabri said making data accessible and incorporating user feedback helps improve data accuracy over time, reducing skepticism and enhancing engagement.

 

“We have to make the data available and traceable,” Sabri said. “When users can see where it comes from and contribute to its evolution, they start to trust it. It’s not enough to just deliver information; we need to show the lineage of that data, the assumptions behind it and how it changes over time.”

 

Panelists agreed that breaking down data silos is less about eliminating them entirely and more about creating interoperable “glitches” or connections via APIs, open standards and AI to normalize data across disparate systems.

 

This approach recognizes the reality of legacy systems and the challenges of creating a single, unified data source. Minimizing redundant data storage and enabling bi-directional data exchange were emphasized as key architectural considerations.

 

Hotaling said communication and leadership support also play a crucial role in adoption. Demonstrating incremental successes — no matter how small — can build organizational buy-in and momentum.

 

“Clear, consistent communication helps align teams around common goals and ensures that the benefits of digital twin initiatives are understood across all levels of the organization,” Hotaling said. “Leadership endorsement is essential to overcoming resistance and sustaining long-term commitment.”

 

The panel concluded that digital twins present significant opportunities but also require thoughtful strategies to address interoperability, data governance, user engagement and change management to fully unlock their potential across industries.