Digital Twins for Bridge Management

Abstract

Digital twins (DTs) are increasingly seen as a promising tool for bridge management, yet bridge owners hold diverging views on bridge digital twin (BDT) requirements, benefits, and feasibility. The International Association for Bridge Maintenance and Safety (IABMAS) Working Group on Digital Twins conducted an international survey of bridge owners and reviewed current developments in DT and case studies. The survey covered owners’ management needs, DT definitions, input/output expectations, and perceived potential. Owners see promise in DTs but want clearer guidance on minimum requirements, practical benefits, and scalable implementation strategies. Case studies illustrate their strengths in lifecycle decision-making and weaknesses tied to data fragmentation. Coherent data standards, platform interoperability, and integration with existing asset management workflows are essential. This work outlines a roadmap toward a harmonized, owner-centered BDT framework grounded in coherent standards, scalable implementation paths, and cross-sectoral collaboration.