The federal government is exploring the creation of a digital twin to manage some of Canada’s most complex and high-profile infrastructure — spanning heritage buildings in the Parliamentary Precinct to specialized Laboratories Canada facilities.

Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) has launched a Request for Information (RFI) on a potential digital twin platform. The Science and Parliamentary Infrastructure Branch (SPIB), which is responsible for managing a wide range of crown assets, feels its current patchwork of systems leads to inefficiency and risk.

SPIB’s portfolio spans everything from 19th-century parliamentary buildings to modern laboratories. Right now, many assets are managed through systems that don’t talk to one another. A digital twin could streamline operations, extend the life of buildings, and make the portfolio more resilient. To shape the project, the department is asking for industry feedback on cybersecurity, integration, costs, and timelines.

While this RFI will not result in a contract, responses will shape a future procurement process. The RFI is open until September 19, 2025, at 14:00 EDT.

From BIM to Digital Twin

Building Information Modeling (BIM) has long served as a design and planning tool, but its static nature limits its role once assets are operational. A digital twin, by contrast, links 3D models with live data streams, supporting predictive maintenance, portfolio-wide planning, and even real-time decision-making for emergency services.

PSPC’s RFI identifies five early use cases for such a platform:

• Campus Portfolio Database to unify asset information.
• Commissioning and Handover Data to ensure documentation and as-built data are captured.
• Maintenance through predictive analytics and proactive monitoring.
• Portfolio and Heritage Overview to balance capital planning with conservation.
• Asset and Systems Visualization by merging GIS and BIM into interactive 3D models.

Defining Digital Twins in Canada

The RFI also comes at a time when Canadian experts are calling for clearer definitions around digital twins. In a recent interview with GoGeomatics, John Hale, President of buildingSMART Canada and Chief of BIM/GIS at the Department of National Defence, emphasized the issue directly: “Lack of definition — we really need clear definition. There are several groups working in this space, but ‘digital twins’ has become a real buzzword in the industry. There are lots of software developers and service providers looking for the next trendy AI digital twin.”

To tackle this, Hale highlighted efforts to bring stakeholders together: “We have a working group we’ve been building called the National Canadian Committee for Canada’s Built Environment. It’s an informal group now, but we are trying to formalize it to ensure the right players are involved in setting direction for digital twins. Currently, OGC (Open Geospatial Consortium), buildingSMART Canada, and some federal organizations are members of the group, which is growing rapidly.”

The message is clear: turning digital twins from a buzzword into a working tool will depend on stronger collaboration and governance in Canada.