How does a Self-Configurable Multi Node Spatial database enable enterprise digital transformation for asset intensive organizations?

The spatial digital twin has continued to gain excitement in various industries over the past 12 months. This is primarily due to the digital transformation opportunities that it presents. However, do we understand how to ensure implementation and adoption of the spatial digital twin is sustainable? And how does this relate to enterprise business process? How do we ensure that the technology initiative not only is attractive for general use day one, but also throughout the life of the asset? How can we enable a scalable modular approach to enterprise digital transformation using a spatial database or indexing?

The concept of the spatial database as the foundation for enterprise digital transformation is relatively new, with much of the focus to date on the digitization of business process, removal of single point excel tables and the introduction of a connected environment via the use of CDEs, data lakes and data warehouse. However, has this necessarily been the correct approach when looking to become more a spatially enabled or connected asset intensive organization? Should we approach the concept of digital transformation from a spatial perspective as the baseline? In other words, considering the spatial database as our start point to develop a sustainable initiative implementation leveraging off the spatial digital thread concept, and not just the point technology solution in isolation based on a specific value proposition? How can we develop the relationship between various digital transformation initiatives without firstly considering the relationships they may require?    

Typically, we look to build from the ground up. And this makes sense.  Not all digital transformation initiatives may require spatial reference.  However, they do require the relationships to business process, whether that be to one or many. All enterprise business process exists in a larger eco system of enterprise process across the broader value and supply chain in a connected data environment. Therefore, whether the business process requires direct spatial relationship or not, it will still require a relationship to other process that inevitably will require a spatial interface.  Therefore, a broad conclusion that all asset owner business process should utilize a spatial database as the connector between process irrespective of who, what, why and when could be proposed.  

This concept may sound far too futuristic for many, with various perspectives relating to the value of spatial reference at an enterprise level for functional process including finance, work management, HR, material management, engineering, etc. However, when seeking a unified relationship between these disparate systems and the respective digital transformation initiatives, should we not focus on the sustainability of the solution prior to investing in the ground level product? Should we not approach from both ends, ground truth validation and business case justification, with a continued focus on the relationship the system of systems has to the broader enterprise?

All data can be interpreted in the same format, table and schema. And to build relationships, we use a concept of tree (Structure or WBS) and node (index). Meaning, irrespective of whether the data we are referring to is spatial (Geometry and Geospatial), table or time series we can always build a relationship between datasets and their respective digital transformation initiatives through this concept. When we look to introduce the concept of table/schema and tree/node, plus the concept of spatially enabled dynamic model tree, we now have a fully dynamic self-configurable and scalable information relationship management solution that has been democratized. In some respect creating a spatially enabled semantic model that is adaptable over time. The ontologies are simple to define and maintain, unlike the graph database solutions of today.

Are we starting to see the concept of the digital twin, move past just a real time digital representation of a physical asset? Could we start to utilize the framework of the digital twin as the foundation for all digital transformation initiatives in an organization?