Constructing and Maintaining Road Geometric Digital Twins

Abstract

Geometric digital twins (GDTs) for roads hold promise for improving asset management and enabling cost-effective predictive maintenance in the transportation industry. Whereas current methods require significant manual intervention, future research aims to automate GDT construction and maintenance processes. In this paper, we employ a Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA)-based framework to systematically review the state of practice and state of research in the construction and maintenance of road GDTs. We also review and delve into the application of road GDTs in the key project phases. We focus on highlighting existing knowledge gaps and identifying future research directions. Further, we investigate current barriers to constructing and maintaining road geometric digital twins, analyze common road assets for prioritization, and provide time-cost estimates for GDT development using commercially available software. Finally, we conclude by presenting a roadmap of road GDTs, highlighting the generational development and a long-term vision.