Digital twins for engineering structures—An Industry 4.0 perspective

Abstract

The term “digital twin” is becoming increasingly prevalent in both research and politics with regard to infrastructure structures. Industry is making significant advancements in the fields of automation and autonomy. While numerous definitions are in circulation, some of which are identical, many are similar in nature. This work examines the digital twin from its original industry perspective and considers its relevance to the constructional engineering sector. The objective of this study is to provide an overview of the current approaches in the Industry 4.0 and constructional engineering industry, examining the associated technical opportunities and challenges. The study compares the definitions, requirements and projects executed in this field. The technologies under examination are contrasted on the basis of their position within the data model. The preliminary findings suggest that some solutions for Industry 4.0 have already been developed for the construction engineering sector. However, it must be acknowledged that some solutions have yet to be fully validated.