Digital Twin: Generalization, characterization and implementation

• Published in: Decision Support Systems 2021-06, Vol.145, p.113524, Article 113524
• Main Authors: VanDerHorn, Eric, Mahadevan, Sankaran
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Decision making; Digital technology; Digital Twin; Digital twins; Information fusion; Model updating; Virtual representation
• ISSN: 0167-9236; 1873-5797
• DOI: 10.1016/j.dss.2021.113524

Digital Twin is one of the promising digital technologies being developed at present to support digital transformation and decision making in multiple industries. While the concept of a Digital Twin is nearly 20 years old, it continues to evolve as it expands to new industries and use cases. This has resulted in a continually increasing variety of definitions that threatens to dilute the concept and lead to ineffective implementations of the technology. There is a need for a consolidated and generalized definition, with clearly established characteristics to distinguish what constitutes a Digital Twin and what does not. This paper reviews 46 Digital Twin definitions given in the literature over the past ten years to propose a generalized definition that encompasses the breadth of options available and provides a detailed characterization which includes criteria to distinguish the Digital Twin from other digital technologies. Next, a process and considerations for the implementation of Digital Twins is presented through a case study. Digital Twin future needs and opportunities are also outlined. •Definitions of a Digital Twin can be characterized by three primary components.•Digital Twins can be distinguished from other digital modeling and simulation.•Successful Digital Twin scoping based on set outcomes and principle of parsimony.