Xiong, Guanyu, Li, Haijiang  ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6326-8133 and Gao, Yan ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5890-9717
2025.
Cross-domain comparative analysis of digital twins and universalised solutions.
Advanced Engineering Informatics
68
(PartB)
, 103726.
10.1016/j.aei.2025.103726
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Abstract
Digitalisation is transforming various economic sectors, with the digital twin (DT) being a key manifestation for complex systems. While numerous studies focus on sector-specific DTs, few offer comparative analyses across domains. This paper delivers three major contributions: (1) A six-dimensional characterisation framework that systematically captures DT development processes across conceptual (twinning objects, purposes, system architectures) and implementation (data, modelling, services) dimensions; (2) Cross-domain comparative analysis of DTs across five representative domains (agriculture, manufacturing, construction, healthcare, smart cities) using this framework, revealing universal commonalities in DIKW-based intelligence progression and identifying three key differentiators—digitalisation capability, cost-benefit dynamics, and socio-ethical risks—that explain domain-specific variations in DT maturity and adoption; and (3) A unified Digital Twin Platform-as-a-Service (DT-PaaS) solution that standardises common processes, tools, and applications while accommodating domain-specific variations through interoperable data models, reusable modelling libraries, and cross-domain service orchestration. A case study demonstrates that the proposed DT-PaaS framework enables connected DT ecosystems with capabilities for data synchronisation, co-simulation, collaborative learning, and coordinated decision-making across sectors. This research establishes the first systematic cross-domain DT comparison methodology and provides practical pathways for knowledge transfer between mature and emerging DT domains, ultimately supporting more efficient and interoperable digital transformation.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Date Type: | Publication |
| Status: | Published |
| Schools: | Schools > Engineering |
| Subjects: | T Technology > TA Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General) |
| Publisher: | Elsevier |
| ISSN: | 1474-0346 |
| Date of First Compliant Deposit: | 5 August 2025 |
| Date of Acceptance: | 30 July 2025 |
| Last Modified: | 07 Aug 2025 11:01 |
| URI: | https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/180281 |
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