Bridge Digital Twin for Practical Bridge Operation and Maintenance by Integrating GIS and BIM

Abstract

As an emerging technology, digital twin (DT) is increasingly valued in bridge management for its potential to optimize asset operation and maintenance (O&M). However, traditional bridge management systems (BMS) and existing DT applications typically rely on standalone building information modeling (BIM) or geographic information system (GIS) platforms, with limited integration between BIM and GIS or consideration for their underlying graph structures. This study addresses these limitations by developing an integrated DT system that combines WebGIS, WebBIM, and graph algorithms within a three-layer architecture. The system design includes a common data environment (CDE) to address cross-platform compatibility, enabling real-time monitoring, drone-enabled inspection, maintenance planning, traffic diversion, and logistics optimization. Additionally, it features an adaptive data structure incorporating JSON-based bridge defect information modeling and triple-based roadmap graphs to streamline data management and decision-making. This comprehensive approach demonstrates the potential of DTs to enhance bridge O&M efficiency, safety, and decision-making. Future research will focus on further improving cross-platform interoperability to expand DT applications in infrastructure management.