Europe has taken a significant step toward a more digital, interoperable and competitive construction sector with the publication of by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN).
The new standard establishes the first European framework dedicated to Digital Twins in the built environment, defining a common conceptual and technical foundation that will support the large-scale adoption of digital twin technologies across Europe.
The initiative reflects strong European collaboration and highlights the leadership of the Building Digital Twin Association (BDTA) and the Asociación Española de Normalización (UNE), who played key roles in coordinating the work within the relevant European technical committee.
Building the foundations for interoperable Digital Twins
Digital Twins are rapidly emerging as a critical technology for smart infrastructure, sustainable buildings, and data-driven asset management. However, their effective deployment requires shared standards and interoperable frameworks.
The new standard EN 18162:2026 addresses this need by defining:
- Fundamental concepts and terminology for Digital Twins
- Principles for qualitative specification of Digital Twins
- Guidance on geometric, attribute, structural and infrastructure quality
- The relationship between Digital Twins and BIM
The document also draws on real-world experiences gathered through practical use cases and aligns with international work such as ISO/IEC 30173 Digital Twin — Concepts and Terminology.
Importantly, the standard represents the first part of a future European series, which will further structure the Digital Twin ecosystem for buildings and infrastructure.
A strategic step for Europe’s digital competitiveness
As the built environment becomes increasingly data-driven, interoperability and common frameworks are essential to avoid market fragmentation.
By establishing a shared European reference, the new standard contributes to:
- Accelerating the digital transformation of construction and infrastructure
- Enabling cross-border interoperability of Digital Twin solutions
- Supporting innovation and technology deployment at scale
- Strengthening European competitiveness in digital construction technologies
The publication of EN 18162:2026 therefore represents more than a technical milestone: it is a strategic contribution to a more integrated and technologically advanced European construction ecosystem.
BDTA leading the European Digital Twin effort
The Building Digital Twin Association (BDTA) has played a central role in shaping this milestone.
The association actively supports the standardization, interoperability and adoption of Digital Twins, bringing together industry leaders, public authorities, research institutions and technical experts across Europe.
Within the European standardization framework, Eduardo Loscos, President of BDTA and R&D Manager at IDP Bureau Veritas, served as Convenor of the working group CEN/TC 442/WG 9, coordinating the development of the standard.
At the same time, UNE held the secretariat of the working group, ensuring effective collaboration across European stakeholders.
This coordinated leadership highlights the importance of industry-driven standardization in enabling emerging technologies to scale across Europe.
A collaborative European achievement
Between 2024 and 2026, a wide network of European experts contributed to the development of the standard, including numerous members of BDTA.
Their expertise helped ensure that the framework reflects real market needs and operational realities, reinforcing its relevance for industry and public authorities alike.
According to Eduardo Loscos:
“The approval of this standard demonstrates the maturity and urgency of the European market. It marks the beginning of a series of standards that will unlock the full potential of Digital Twins for the public good and for the efficiency of the construction sector.”
The national adoption of the standard as UNE-EN 18162:2026 is expected in the coming months.