ABSTRACT
The concept of the Digital Twin is being used more and more in general and especially in the AEC sector (Architecture, Engineering and Construction). Among others, this is due to the progress in the computational area and the sensor technologies. This ongoing progress leads to a wide range of applications and just as many users. This uncoordinated development causes many different definitions of the term “Digital Twin”. Therefore, a literature review shall be conducted to give an insight into the different definitions that are being used and to show the historical development of the term.
Furthermore, in the research project ZEKISS (www.zekiss.de) the authors are intensively engaged in the area of Digital Twins. In ZEKISS railway bridges and trains are being equipped with different kind of sensors which can be simultaneously linked to its digital representation of the bridge for predictive maintenance purposes. The sensor data and other data such as images of damaged areas and inspection documents are stored in the Digital Twin database and are used to update the structural model with the help of simulations. Then, based on the evaluation of sensor data, early damage detection should be possible, and the updated models should allow an assessment of the consequences. The authors will evaluate the existing definitions of the “Digital Twin” in the context of the gained practical knowledge through ZEKISS as well as the conducted literature review. Consequently, the authors will give a contribution to a standardization of the terminology.
