Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) launched a digital twin covering six hospitals in October 2025. The 3D model spans 274,000 square meters and integrates data from multiple systems, including CAFM and CAD floor plans, to create a single source of estates information. BIS Consult led data strategy and integration, using Esri UK's GIS platform for indoor mapping, spatial analysis, and asset tracking. The digital twin supports space optimization, RAAC and asbestos management, and plans to add indoor navigation, patient contact tracing, and real-time asset tracking.
What Happened
MFT replaced disparate systems and paper-based processes with a comprehensive 3D digital twin of Manchester Royal Infirmary, Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, Manchester Royal Eye Hospital, Saint Mary’s Hospital, Altrincham Hospital, and Withington Community Hospital. The digital twin enables real-time occupancy monitoring and improved facility management. Mobile digital surveys feed data directly into the model, enhancing risk visualization for RAAC and asbestos. The project overcame significant data integration challenges and established new data governance protocols.
Why It Matters for the AECM Industry
The digital twin enhances operational efficiency by providing accurate, up-to-date spatial and asset data. It supports maintenance prioritization by digitizing building condition surveys and replacing manual spreadsheets with shared digital reports. Energy usage data integration will enable cost reduction strategies. This project exemplifies how digital twins can transform healthcare estates management, offering a blueprint for similar large-scale AECM projects.
What's Next
MFT plans to extend the digital twin to four additional hospitals and incorporate energy consumption data. Future phases will focus on indoor navigation, patient contact tracing, and real-time asset tracking to further improve facility operations and patient safety.
Source: https://aecmag.com/digital-twin/nhs-foundation-trust-creates-smart-estate-with-digital-twin/. Read the original story →
