By Kamalakannan Thiruvadi & Harsh Nagpal.
In an era where educational institutions are rapidly evolving to meet the demands of a digital-first world, the adoption of innovative technologies has become essential. Among these, digital twin technology—pioneered and advanced globally by Bentley Systems—is emerging as a powerful enabler for smarter, safer, and more sustainable campuses.
Digital twins: Advancing the campus experience
A digital twin is a virtual representation of a physical asset, system, or entire environment. In a campus setting, this could include buildings, classrooms, laboratories, utility systems, transportation routes, energy networks, and even digital infrastructure. What makes a digital twin unique is its ability to continuously update and reflect real-time data from sensors, IoT devices, and operational systems. The result is a dynamic, intelligent model that supports better decision-making at every level.
Across India and the world, universities and technical institutes are exploring how digital twins can transform the way they design, operate, and maintain their campuses. Bentley Systems—internationally recognised for its infrastructure engineering software—offers a suite of solutions that make this vision both practical and scalable. Bentley Systems iTwin platform enables institutions to create high-fidelity 3D models, integrate vast streams of operational data, and generate actionable insights over the entire lifecycle of campus facilities.
For educational institutions embarking on modernisation, a campus digital twin presents numerous, compelling advantages.
First, digital twins significantly improve planning and infrastructure development. Whether constructing new academic blocks or retrofitting older buildings, decision-makers gain a precise understanding of existing conditions. A unified 3D view of the entire campus eliminates guesswork and reduces rework, lowering project costs and timelines. Engineering teams can simulate different scenarios—energy performance, structural behaviour, fire safety, or pedestrian movement—before committing resources, thus optimizing investments.
Second, digital twins transform operations and maintenance. Facilities management teams often struggle with outdated drawings, scattered data, or time-consuming manual inspections. With a digital twin, they can visualize asset locations, track maintenance history, monitor real-time system performance, and predict failures before they occur. This greatly enhances reliability, reduces downtime, and ensures faster response to incidents. For sprawling campuses that accommodate thousands of students, such efficiencies are invaluable.
Third, digital twins help institutions meet rising expectations around sustainability, energy efficiency, and environmental performance. By integrating data from HVAC systems, water networks, solar installations, and smart meters, universities can monitor consumption patterns, identify waste, and plan targeted improvements. Simulations allow administrators to test the impact of green initiatives—such as energy retrofits or renewable energy expansions—before implementation. This directly supports sustainability goals and reduces operational expenditure.
Fourth, digital twins enhance safety and emergency preparedness. Campus security teams can use the model to plan evacuation routes, simulate fire scenarios, map CCTV coverage, and coordinate responses. Integrating real-time feeds enables quick analysis during emergencies, giving stakeholders the information needed to act decisively. In an age where campus safety is a top priority, this capability is a major advantage.
Beyond infrastructure and operations, digital twins unlock exciting opportunities for learning and research. Engineering, architecture, urban planning, and environmental science students can use the campus twin as a living laboratory. They gain hands-on exposure to real-world digital engineering workflows, IoT analytics, simulation tools, and sustainability modelling – skills that are highly sought after in modern industries. This strengthens academic programs and improves job readiness.
Additionally, digital twins support better campus experiences. Students and faculty benefit from smarter navigation, real-time occupancy data for classrooms and labs, efficient transport routes, optimized energy use, and improved comfort levels. For institutions seeking to differentiate themselves, a digital twin becomes a foundation for delivering a technologically advanced, student-friendly environment.
Implementing a campus digital twin may appear complex, but Bentley Systems’ iTwin ecosystem simplifies the process. Institutions can start small—perhaps with a single building or utility network—and gradually expand to a full-campus implementation. The flexibility of Bentley’s open, cloud-based platform ensures seamless integration with existing systems, across vendor offerings, and future technologies.
Preparing India’s future engineers
In an era where India’s technology architecture is rapidly evolving, academic institutions stand at the forefront of shaping future-ready talent. Bentley Systems is partnering with universities and technical institutes to embed digital twin technology into the academic ecosystem—creating smarter, safer, and more sustainable campuses while preparing students for the next wave of innovation.
Bentley Systems’ collaboration with educational institutions is not just about modernising infrastructure; it’s about empowering the next generation of engineers and technologists. By integrating digital twin technology into curricula and campus operations, universities can:
- Provide hands-on learning: Students gain exposure to real-world digital engineering workflows, IoT analytics, and simulation tools – skills that are critical for India’s future smart cities and infrastructure projects.
- Foster research and innovation: Digital twins serve as living laboratories for architecture, urban planning, and environmental studies, driving applied research and industry collaboration.
Introducing digital twin concepts at an early stage equips students with future-ready competencies. As India moves toward Industry 4.0, smart infrastructure, and AI-driven urban planning, professionals skilled in digital twins will be in high demand. Early training ensures graduates are not just job-ready but innovation-ready – capable of designing and managing complex systems that define tomorrow’s cities and campuses.
As India accelerates its quest toward becoming a global engineering education and innovation hub, digital twins offer universities a clear path to modernisation. By embracing Bentley Systems’ digital twin technology, educational institutions can create campuses that are not only smarter and more efficient, but also better prepared for the demands of the future. This is more than a technological upgrade—it is a strategic investment in academic excellence, operational resilience, and student success.
The author Kamalakannan Thiruvadi is the Regional Executive, South Asia at Bentley Systems and Harsh Nagpal is the Director – Education, Asia at Bentley Systems.
DISCLAIMER: The views expressed are solely of the author and ETEDUCATION does not necessarily subscribe to it. ETEDUCATION will not be responsible for any damage caused to any person or organisation directly or indirectly.
About the Author
