A Framework for the Development of Digital Twin in Road and Rail Infrastructure Asset Management

Abstract

Road and rail infrastructure asset management faces a plethora of challenges, from meeting the demands of decarbonisation, to ageing asset portfolios, and meeting the demand of modern users. It is believed in the research that digital twin development could aid linear infrastructure organisations to counteracting these challenges, if targeted and well measured interventions are made.
This thesis will define how organisations can apply the digital twin concept to aid them to meet their organisational objectives through developing a clear understanding of the challenges that they seek to address and how they can be translated into a real-world application of a digital twin that brings much sought after change. Whether that be in terms of efficiency of working, effectiveness of interventions, or meeting the pressures of regulatory, governmental, or the publics demands, to name but a few.
The framework developed in this research is comprised of three primary elements that structure the necessary understanding, specification, and development activities for the realisation of a digital twin. The first of these elements entitled the Digital Twin Stages of Development provides users with defined milestones that promote firstly the realisation of a digital twin then subsequently the continued development of its capabilities to meet their requirements. The second element of the framework, Pre-Development, seeks to elicit an organisation’s need for a digital twin in relation to their objectives and perceived benefits, going forward to relate these to defined digital twin concepts and attributes to create what is referred to as the digital twin Purpose. The final element, the Dimensions of Development, utilise the purpose and the stages of development to enable organisation to organise the three dimensions of People, Process, and Technology in order for them to development and implement a fit for purpose digital twin capable of realising their desired benefits.

Date of Award	27 Jun 2024
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Northumbria University
Supervisor	Barry Gledson (Supervisor), Mohamad Kassem (Supervisor) & Graham Kelly (Supervisor)