Digital twin-driven intelligent construction: Features and trends

Abstract

Digital twin (DT) can achieve real-time information fusion and interactive feedback between virtual space and physical space. This technology involves a digital model, real-time information management, comprehensive intelligent perception networks, etc., and it can drive the rapid conceptual development of intelligent construction (IC) such as smart factories, smart cities, and smart medical care. Nevertheless, the actual use of DT in IC is partially pending, with numerous scientific factors still not clarified. An overall survey on pending issues and unsolved scientific factors is needed for the development of DT-driven IC. To this end, this study aims to provide a comprehensive review of the state of the art and state of the use of DT-driven IC. The use of DT in planning, design, manufacturing, operation, and maintenance management of IC is demonstrated and analyzed, following which the driving functions of DT in IC are detailed from four aspects: information perception and analysis, data mining and modeling, state assessment and prediction, intelligent optimization and decision-making. Furthermore, the future direction of research, using DT in IC, is presented with some comments and suggestions. This work will help researchers gain in-depth and systematic understanding of the use of DT, and help practitioners to better promote its implementation in IC.