A preliminary investigation on enabling digital twin technology for operations and maintenance of urban underground infrastructure

Underground infrastructure plays a kind of crucial role in modern production and living, especially in big cities where the ground space has been fully utilized. In the context of recent advancements in digital technology, the demand for the application of digital twin technology in underground infrastructure has become increasingly urgent as well. However, the interaction and co-integration between underground engineering entities and virtual models remain relatively limited, primarily due to the unique nature of underground engineering data and the constraints imposed by the development of information technology. This research focuses on underground engineering infrastructure and provides an overview of the application of novel information technologies. Furthermore, a comprehensive framework for digital twin implementation, which encompasses five dimensions and combines emerging technologies, has been proposed. It thereby expands the horizons of the intersection between underground engineering and digital twins. Additionally, a practical project in Wenzhou serves as a case study, where a comprehensive database covering the project’s entire life cycle has been established. The physical model is visualized, endowed with functional implications and data analysis capabilities, and integrated with the visualization platform to enable dynamic operation and maintenance management of the project.