Characterising the Digital Twin: A systematic literature review
Open accessAbstract
While there has been a recent growth of interest in the Digital Twin, a variety of definitions employed across industry and academia remain. There is a need to consolidate research such to maintain a common understanding of the topic and ensure future research efforts are to be based on solid foundations. Through a systematic literature review and a thematic analysis of 92 Digital Twin publications from the last ten years, this paper provides a characterisation of the Digital Twin, identification of gaps in knowledge, and required areas of future research. In characterising the Digital Twin, the state of the concept, key terminology, and associated processes are identified, discussed, and consolidated to produce 13 characteristics (Physical Entity/Twin; Virtual Entity/Twin; Physical Environment; Virtual Environment; State; Realisation; Metrology; Twinning; Twinning Rate; Physical-to-Virtual Connection/Twinning; Virtual-to-Physical Connection/Twinning; Physical Processes; and Virtual Processes) and a complete framework of the Digital Twin and its process of operation. Following this characterisation, seven knowledge gaps and topics for future research focus are identified: Perceived Benefits; Digital Twin across the Product Life-Cycle; Use-Cases; Technical Implementations; Levels of Fidelity; Data Ownership; and Integration between Virtual Entities; each of which are required to realise the Digital Twin.
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High levels of fidelity represent some of the major limitations of bringing DTs up to the next level.
“Additionally, high levels of fidelity represent some of the major limitations of bringing DTs up to the next level [43].”
From Digital Twin Technology Challenges and Applications: A Comprehensive Review (2022) · cites this paper as [43]
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Cites
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- Authors
- Jones, D., Snider, C., Nassehi, A., Yon, J., & Hicks, B.
- Affiliations
- University of Bristol (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Jones, David
- Venue
- CIRP Journal of Manufacturing Science and Technology
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2020-05
- Volume
- 29
- Pages
- 36-52
- ISSN
- 1755-5817 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W3012041784
- Cited by
- 2,422
- References
- 13
- Citations by year
- 2026: 470 · 2025: 479 · 2024: 461 · 2023: 462 · 2022: 343 · 2021: 180 · 2020: 27
- FWCI
- 20.20
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- CIRP journal of manufacturing science and technology (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- Explore Bristol Research (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- Funders
- Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering › Digital Transformation in Industry
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering › Applied Advanced Technologies
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering › Flexible and Reconfigurable Manufacturing Systems
- Keywords
- digital twin, digital twin framework, metrology, twinning rate, product life cycle, data ownership, knowledge gaps
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