Towards an extended model-based definition for the digital twin

The concept of the digital twin calls for virtual replicas of real world products. Achieving this requires a sophisticated network of models that have a level of interconnectivity. The authors attempted to improve model interconnectivity by enhancing the computer-aided design model with spatially related non-geometric data. A tool was created to store, visualize, and search for spatial data within the computer-aided design tool. This enables both model authors, and consumers to utilize information inside the CAD tool which traditionally would have existed in separate software. © 2018, © 2018 CAD Solutions, LLC.