Balder: mapping technical data for effective troubleshooting

What matters when building up a digital twin that you will actually use in operations and facility management? We spoke with Patrick Backelin, who shared his experience of inventorying data in a digital twin.

I am responsible for the property network — communications to and within the properties, both residential and commercial here in Gothenburg. I am also involved in a few different projects related to digitalisation.
— Patrick Backelin, property network manager, Balder

What information do you map in your digital twin?

I go out and map information that is important in my role — network outlets, switch cabinets, incoming fibre networks and nodes for the technical network, so that we get a handle on where everything is. Today it is detective work every time you go out, and it does not have to be that way if you have the information documented in the twin.
— Patrick Backelin

I see great value in getting things connected and having a toolbox where I can easily go in and troubleshoot, or provide others with information.
— Patrick Backelin

What benefits are you focusing on getting out of it?

The big win for Balder, I think, is the digital drawings that can be adjusted and corrected. For my own part, it is interesting to have good drawings when we are building a new property network — to be able to indicate where we want the connections, the same goes for the technical network's outlets. I see great value in getting things connected and having a toolbox where I can easily go in and troubleshoot, or provide others with information.
— Patrick Backelin

How do you work with data inventory to support those processes?

By mapping which space is connected to which unit and what IP address it is on, the operations technician who goes out has something to work from and can troubleshoot and resolve more easily. If we add contact details, you also know who to contact if it is only an external supplier who can solve the problem. If we can put enough good information in the twin that you can take yourself out of the equation, or that someone else can at least complete ninety percent of a troubleshooting process, then we have come a very long way.
— Patrick Backelin

Do you have any advice for a successful digitalisation effort?

That it is important to think carefully about both what information should be documented, and how it should be documented. For example, some people refer to properties by profit centre, others use nicknames or addresses — so it can be worth setting a naming standard so that everyone does it the same way.
— Patrick Backelin