The first step towards a digital twin is the creation of a digital model of the object or environment. This step can be difficult, but there are multiple options for creating an accurate representation.
One way towards creating a digital twin is to accurately represent the digital model of the physical object or environment. To do this, you can use a number of different techniques such as digitizing with 3D scanners, manually constructing models from CAD layout files or in Blender, converting point clouds into mesh geometry using point cloud tools like Meshlab or ReconstructMe, and photogrammetry.
The best method for capturing your object will depend on what type of data you have available and how long you want to spend collecting it. For example:
• Digitizing an object with a LIDAR scanner takes less time than manually constructing its geometry in CAD software but isn't ideal if you don't have access to one.
• Photogrammetry requires more time than scanning but may be easier if there are multiple subjects to capture (such as rooms).
• Custom models created in a 3D modeling tool can provide great detail without hardware consumption. The best option for smartphones and large-scale sites like cities.