What is Digital twin?

A digital twin is a digital representation of a specific real-world physical object, system, or environment that mirrors its features and behavior.

The U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology describes a digital twin instance as a digital data structure, object, or entity in a computer software environment that represents a specific physical instance of a real-world object. Digital twins are used to observe, analyze, and reason about the physical thing they represent. In a facility-safety context, a digital twin of a building can hold spatial detail used for planning, navigation, and emergency response.

Defined from authoritative sources

This definition is drawn from the sources below, last verified 2026-06-23. How we verify.

1. NIST Computer Security Resource Center Glossary: digital twin instance (NIST IR 8356) verified 2026-06-23
2. NIST Computer Security Resource Center Glossary: digital twin definition (NIST IR 8356) verified 2026-06-23

Keep reading

• LiDAR scanningDefinition
• Critical incident mappingDefinition
• Gridded floor plan / x-y grid overlayDefinition
• Walk-through verification (of a facility map)Definition

From definition to deployment

See how responder-ready mapping works for K-12 schools, where your state stands, and the grants that can fund it.