MUNICH, Germany and AMES, IO, June 23, 2025 – The Nemetschek Group has announced its partnership with Iowa State University’s Iowa Innovative Housing Project (also known as the 3D Affordable innovative technologies housing project). The project focuses on addressing Iowa’s housing shortage by applying 3D construction printing and other methods to improve building efficiency. The approach is intended to lower construction risks, reduce material consumption and waste, and support the development of cost-effective and sustainable housing.
In the current pilot phase, the university is using Nemetschek’s dTwin solution to develop digital twins of planned structures, enabling data-driven monitoring and visualization through interactive dashboards. As part of the next phase, the project will integrate Nemetschek’s dTwin platform with a 3D-printed shed equipped with sensors to deliver real-time data into air quality and energy consumption – advancing smart building research.
More Efficient Construction with Digital Twin Technology
Throughout the lifecycle of a building – from planning, construction to operation – volumes of data are generated by multiple stakeholders using isolated systems. This fragmentation leads to increase in risk of errors. A digital twin provides a unified view of the building, enabling design teams to analyze, simulate, and optimize multiple scenarios before construction begins. After the structure is completed, the digital model is updated with real-time data from the physical building, creating a continuous feedback loop that links design, construction, and operations. The dTwin platform supports multiple data sources in an open format, allowing flexibility without requiring users to conform to a specific data structure.
“Nemetschek’s dTwin solution has changed how we approach every new home in this project. We’re able to visualize every aspect of a planned structure in one seamless view. We can monitor air quality and energy consumption and compare this with buildings constructed traditionally, giving us incredibly valuable insights. We hope to use the dTwin platform extensively across every stage – design, construction, and property management – as we work to solve rural housing issues in an affordable and sustainable way,” says Pete Evans, assistant professor of industrial design at Iowa State.
The state of Iowa is facing challenges regarding housing affordability. For every 100 low-income renter households, there are 85 units available that are affordable to them. The median household income in the state is $37,573 per year whereas the median rent in the state is $689 per month. As of date, the state is short over 13,147 low-income housing units[1].
“Put simply, the usage of dTwin allows for more efficient construction and operation. By fusing all data sources of a building in one overarching view, decision makers can efficiently track, filter, and query all relevant information and derive purpose-tailored insights. Opportunities and challenges are seen in the digital twin of a build before they can manifest in the real world,” said Dr Jimmy Abualdenien, head of digital twin product at Nemetschek Group. “The team at Iowa State has a true vision to help ease the housing crisis, and we are proud to be a part of such an important project.”
[1] https://www.builderspatch.com/housingcount/us-states/iowa
Source: Nemetschek Group
About Nemetschek Group
Nemetschek Group, founded in 1963 by Prof. Georg Nemetschek, is a German software company headquartered in Munich. Specializing in solutions for the architecture, engineering, construction, and operations (AEC/O) industries, as well as the media and entertainment sectors, the company offers a suite of tools that cover the entire lifecycle of building and infrastructure projects – from planning and design to construction and management. The group’s portfolio includes flagship brands like Allplan, Graphisoft, Bluebeam, Spacewell, and Vectorworks. Nemetschek’s software creates 3D animations and visual effects for films, TV shows, and video games. As of 2024, the company reported revenues of €1000 million and employed approximately 4000 people. With over six million in more than 140, Nemetschek focuses on leveraging SaaS and recurring revenue, supported by growth in subscription, digital twins, and Open BIM solutions.