The International Association for Automation and Robotics in Construction
Publications / 2024 Proceedings of the 41st ISARC, Lille, France
Structural design in the era of digital twins. A case study
Digital Twins (DT) represent a technology that provides a way to encompass useful information of built assets for the sake of productivity enhancement in the AECO sector. Its adoption in the industry is still at early developmental stages. Significant strides have been made in establishing frameworks and workflows for effective DT implementation. This paper analyzes a case study in which a DT of a built bridge is developed during the particular episode of a load test, to understand how structural design can benefit (and potentially adapt) to the specific demands this innovative technology may generate. The bridge under twinning was already built and its design was neither determined nor influenced by the fact that load testing procedures were meant to be twinned. By identifying the link between the development of the DT of the bridge and its design, a conceptual diagram illustrates the key components to consider during the structural design phase. The main objective of this diagram is to present an encompassed vision of design that already accounts for the future existence of the DT of the asset, beyond the delivery of a BIM model. The implementation of the proposed diagram for the case study is described. As a result, it is observed that the proactive integration of structural engineers' specialized knowledge holds promise for enhancing the efficiency of DTs for construction and maintenance tasks.