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Sharing Experience and Knowledge
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Sharing Experience and Knowledge
The Defence Digital Roadmap groups are working on the tasks described in the opening message to this topic and some questions have arisen.
Other sectors are ahead of Defence in their DT journeys and the group has some questions that many of you will have solved. I would appreciate any pointers please to the following information:
Meta Data:
1. Is there a standard or guidelines that define the fields (for example) for meta data descriptions of DTs?
2. It is envisaged that there will be varying levels of abstraction and federation of DTs (for example construction elements, a building and a town). Is there a ‘well known’ way of describing what level a DT encapsulates and to what resolution etc.?
Scenario Generation: are there any guidelines for the aspects to be considered when generating scenarios to explore responses to options that will be run on a federation? (clearly this will depend upon specific needs but, for example, there are likely to be a range of constraints due to the environment and other DTs – are there prompts for what these might be?)
Sharing Environments:
1. Security forces would benefit from access to built-environments for several purposes, including responding to terrorist activities (e.g. the Ariana Grande Manchester Arena attack). How would access be gained to the built environment and DTs relevant to these needs?
2. Non visual sensors may be required, e.g. thermal cameras, how much support for such needs exist in the DTs of buildings? (or what is involved commercially for it to be added? – see IPR question below as well)
IPR Issues: are there any guidelines about the level of access that a user can have? (this might range from use as-is only, to full modification access)
Version Control: is there any guidance about maintaining records of changes to DTs?
It should be possible to re-use what is there already and for the defence sector to feedback any work it carries out in these and other areas for mutual benefit to the whole DT community.
Your responses will be welcomed if you have any knowledge, experience, or even ideas, in any of these areas.
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4 Replies
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Hi Dave,
Recently joined.
I’m part of a Team Defence Information’s Digital Twins working group, primarily Data Capture and Mapping.
I can possible answer one or two questions….answer maybe too strong a word.
Meta Data
I believe they use Dublin Core or at least reference to it. It’s a bit sketchy.
Is it used for meta data descriptions of DT’s? I don’t know, I’m assuming that it could be.
Federated DTs
We have spoken about interaction between DT’s. Maybe Hierarchical.
Scenario Generation:
Reverse and Forward Supply Chain. Maybe. We have as in General Dynamics, modelled our Delivery Teams Supply Chain for the equipment we deliver and manage.
The individual Delivery Teams contract Industry to model availability amongst other stuff….it’s part of Def Stan 00-600: ILS requirements for MOD projects. Part of contract award.
Sharing Environments:
Interesting.
Reference DTs of buildings
The Knowledge in Defence (KiD) through the Defence Gateway is a good resource. One area covers MOD establishments but nothing external, at least a do not think so.
It is also, where you can get access to the relevant Def Stan’s and the Defence Logistic Framework (DLF). I believe you need Delivery Team sponsorship for access.
IPR Issues:
Different depending on contract type. IPR is usually agreed as part of contact award.
Version Control:
Is there any guidance about maintaining records of changes to DTs?
Physical definitely, Digitally, I believe so, it’s at least being thought about. We have talked about “What If” scenarios using the digital.
We have some good knowledge in the work group, I hope that they will join up. Happy to chat in some more generic detail.
Still no thinking emoji
The Team Defence Information website is a good start. Welcome to Team Defence Information – TD-Info -
Hi Rich,
First – Welcome!
Secondly, many thanks that is indeed useful. I will follow-up those leads and make sure that the relevant people in the 7 strands of the Digital Defence Roadmap are aware.
The defence sector are good at modelling but DTs (even the digital thread) is not generally adopted. Some suppliers are further down the road than others, some with ‘good practice’ built-in. The problem is that the customer doesn’t know how to recognise it and that is what we (and they) are all trying to remedy with the roadmap and other initiatives.
It is extremely helpful to be able to point to another sector that is actually using and benefitting from the use of the digital thread/Twin and have resolved some of the issues that concern both the defence customer and the suppliers than have not yet adopted the techniques.
Thanks again for your time to respond – it won’t be wasted!!
Cheers, Dave
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Hi Dave,
Thanks for the reply and the welcome
I wouldn’t call them leads really, mostly resources for Defence and Industry.
Assuming you are a member of Team Defence Information and attend one of the 7 Digital Twin work strands, as listed on the front? I recently attended the Supply Chain And Support Optimisation one, which is what I do as my day job.
The problem is multi faceted. When you say the customer (MOD) doesn’t recognise it? what’s it? Good practice from suppliers?
A lot of the industry members of team defence have digital twins in development if not already in operation. I believe the strands are to support the customer in realising, digital twin development of functional areas within MOD would help provide better outcomes for their business.
I think a lot of other sectors are using and benefiting from use of digital twins, I think that goes without saying, hence why we are here. There are some constraints, but not insurmountable, but they are there none the less.
I hope it isn’t wasted, its an interesting sector and one I enjoy working in. They are the best people I have had the privilege to work with in my career.
Rich
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Hi Rich,
Sorry to be a bit slow in responding! You are correct, I am part of the 7 work strands in the TDI Defence Dig Twin project. I hope that the Supply Chain strand is going well. I did mean that the MOD is not currently well placed to understand what some suppliers can offer in regard to Digital Threads and Twins, however, let’s hope the TDI project, and contributions here, will change that!
Cheers, Dave
The Team Defence Information website is a good start. 
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