Digital Twins in Architecture, Engineering, Construction and Operations. A Brief Review and Analysis

Abstract

Advances in and pervasiveness of technologies like Internet of Things (IoT), Big Data (BD) and Big Data Analytics (BDA), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Cloud Computing (CC) and Cyber Physical Systems (CPS) have allowed for the dissemination of intelligence and innovative solutions across different industries including Architecture, Engineering, Construction and Operation (AECO). Recently, the ideas behind “Digital Twin″ (DT) have been gaining ground in the AECO sector. This paper briefly reviews and analyzes relevant literature to discover the origins of the DT idea; crystallizes a clear definition; identifies DT’s key features; highlights some case studies carried out so far and outlines some of the key applications and the challenges for wider adoption.