Description
The conception and development of digital twins (DT) are increasingly under investigation within the civil engineering sector. They exhibit significant potential in nearly all phases of construction, including design, construction, operation, and maintenance. However, the precise function and implementation of DT lack a clear definition and continue to be the subject of research. This paper focuses on the implementation and the latest developments of DT concerning the maintenance of complex structures. To achieve this, first, we conducted a comprehensive review of papers published within the last five years related to DT in the maintenance of civil engineering structures. These papers were selected based on co-occurrence analysis of keywords in journal papers, which rank within the top quartile (Q1 and Q2) of the Scimago Journal Rank. As a result, we summarize and analyze the concepts, methods, and application cases. Then, the application of DT on the Nibelungen Bridge Worms in Germany will be introduced as a case study. Finally, we provide a discussion on the implementation of DT in the maintenance of civil engineering structures.
