Mr. José Calavera Ruiz, founder of INTEMAC and professor of Building and Prefabrication at the Institute of Civil Engineers in Madrid, used to say that the best way to learn was to travel. Inspired by this idea, the event called “Digital Twins Applied to Specialised Logistic Ecosystems” emerged, as an intellectual journey to environments where digital twins are already consolidated and to others on the way to implementation. The opportunity to learn about these experiences, understand their challenges and successes, and to transfer that knowledge to new contexts is immense, marking a clear path to innovate and advance in our sector.
The conference, organised by DIGITWINS4CIUE with the collaboration of TYPSA, and held at the School of Civil Engineering at the Polytechnic University of Madrid, served as a meeting point to analyse the impact of digitalisation on logistics and infrastructure, and brought together leaders from academia, industry and the public sector to share experiences on the application of digital twins in the management and optimisation of complex operations.
When designing an infrastructure or building, we start from ideal parameters: theoretical models, historical data and carefully defined assumptions, but when that asset comes into operation, reality prevails. This is where digital twins become an indispensable tool. Infrastructures need to adapt to the real data that is collected during their operation.
However, data alone is worthless. Their true impact depends on the professionals who interpret them, understanding their context and meaning. It is their experience and judgment that transform data into sound decisions that respond to real needs.
The conference was opened by Professor Saurabh Amin from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), who addressed the importance of risk management in the planning and operation of infrastructures. In his presentation, he highlighted the value of digital twins in making decisions based on real data and in the capacity for simulation to anticipate challenges and optimise resources.
Following on, several experts shared practical cases of implementing digital twins in their different organisations:
- Joan C., from APM Terminals, presented the impact of digitalisation on ports, giving as an example the port of Valencia, where real-time monitoring improves operational efficiency.
- David Arango Martínez, from Civilnova Solutions, presented the MINETRACK platform, designed for the virtualisation and monitoring of assets in open pit mining.
- Gonzalo Fernández Sánchez and Carlos Acha Ledesma, from EMT Madrid, explained the role of digital twins in sustainable urban mobility through the Urban Mobility Hubs initiative.
- Gonzalo Reguera Díaz, from Terán de Mercamadrid, detailed Mercamadrid’s transition to a digital management model in Smart Mercamadrid.
The event closed with a round table, on which a panel of experts concluded on the importance of collaboration and the exchange of knowledge for the evolution of the digitalisation of the sector, and at which Félix Tejada was the representative of TYPSA.
From TYPSA, we want to express our gratitude to the UPM for hosting this event, as well as to the speakers and attendees for sharing their knowledge. TYPSA will continue to actively participate in the training of future professionals, collaborating with international programmes such as “Digital Twins for Infrastructures and Cities” in partnership with prestigious European universities.
Events like this reaffirm the importance of digitalisation and intersectoral collaboration in the evolution of logistics and infrastructure. With innovation and knowledge, we are moving towards a more efficient and sustainable future.
The recording of the event can be viewed at the following link: https://www.youtube.com/live/YSPdhdKpObA?si=yfVTwOYByIsQjXt2
