A Perspective Review on Digital Twins for Roads, Bridges, and Civil Infrastructures

A digital model that is the counterpart - or twin - of a physical asset is considered a digital twin. Digital twins are becoming one of the most important technology trends for transportation infrastructure because of their potential to increase asset reliability and performance. As they offer current information about the status of the road infrastructure and the risks connected to it, digital twins can be seen as the foundation of infrastructure decision-making. Digital twins provide civil engineers with the ability to visualise assets across their entire life cycle to track changes and to perform analysis that optimises asset performance. The aim of this paper is to present a novel perspective for designing, prototyping and testing digital twins of bridges and road infrastructure. The methodology used takes into account the potential for developing a digital twin for the road infrastructure, taking into account stratigraphic analysis, surface condition monitoring, and bridges structural analysis. We seek to stimulate global efforts towards the achievement of efficient maintenance and management of infrastructures and facilities.