1. Introduction
The dynamics of the transportation market and the growing demands of customers pose significant challenges for transportation companies in the context of maintaining the durability and reliability of transport means. The transportation industry is subject to continuous changes resulting from various factors, such as technological advancements, changing regulations, and consumer trends. In recent years, the dynamic development of the transportation sector can be observed as driven by ongoing globalization, the growth of international trade, and increasing societal mobility. Transportation companies face intensified competition from both traditional and new, innovative entities. Market dynamics force them to constantly adapt to changing conditions and seek new solutions and technologies to maintain a competitive position [
1].
Simultaneously, the growing demands of customers on transportation companies are becoming increasingly diverse. Customers expect quick and timely delivery of goods and high-quality service, safety, and flexibility in adapting services to individual needs. High customer demands require transportation companies to ensure the efficient operation of their fleets and the quality of services provided at every stage of the transportation process. This entails implementing fast and efficient customer service procedures and having a modern vehicle fleet with effective maintenance management and quick emergency response. In this context, ensuring the high maintainability and reliability of the transportation fleet becomes a key issue [
2,
3,
4].
The challenges related to maintaining high maintainability and reliability of the transportation fleet are significant for companies operating in the transportation sector due to the dynamic nature of the transportation environment and the variety of factors affecting vehicle performance. One of the main issues associated with maintaining the transportation fleet’s reliability is the vehicle fleet’s aging. Transport vehicles are operated under various weather and road conditions, leading to natural wear and degradation of mechanical parts and electronic components. Over time, the risk of failures and downtimes increases, negatively impacting the operational efficiency of transportation companies [
5].
Another significant issue is the complexity of maintenance processes for the vehicle fleet. Regular technical inspections and repairs are required to ensure operational readiness and the necessary level of vehicle safety. Managing these maintenance processes is often demanding and time-consuming, especially when providing the proper maintenance level for large transportation fleets operating on diverse routes and under various operational conditions [
6].
Additionally, the necessity for a quick response in case of failures and unforeseen situations is also problematic. Vehicle downtimes can lead to delivery delays, generating costs and negatively impacting the company’s reputation. Therefore, transportation companies must take appropriate measures to minimize the risk of failures and downtimes and ensure the operational continuity of their fleets. Implementing modern methods and technologies, such as digital twins (DTs), can improve the efficiency of fleet maintenance processes and maintain the company’s operational capabilities at the required level. Investments in modern technological solutions allow for improved fleet durability and reliability, minimized operational costs, and increased market competitiveness.
Recently, a lot of research and publications in the field of maintenance management and modeling aimed at improving the efficiency of the maintenance process have been developed for the transportation sector (for an overview, see, for example, [
6,
7]). The search for English language review publications in the Scopus database based on searching the following keywords: ”
transportation OR transport” AND “
maintenance OR maintenance management OR condition monitoring OR predictive maintenance” AND “
review OR state of art OR current state” allowed 24 relevant records to be identified. The identified papers have been published from 2010 to 2024. The content analysis of these reviews revealed that most of these reviews are focused on specific transport sectors – railway maintenance [
8,
9,
10,
11,
12,
13,
14] or air transportation [
15], road transportation [
16,
17,
18], electric vehicles, and fuel cell condition monitoring [
19,
20], water & intermodal transport [
21,
22]. In addition, few reviews are focused on transportation infrastructure maintenance [
23,
24,
25,
26,
27,
28,
29,
30]. However, there is a notable absence of comprehensive review articles addressing the application of digital twins in transportation system operation and maintenance. Despite the growing interest in digital twin technology and its potential benefits for the transportation sector, the current literature lacks thorough reviews that summarize existing knowledge and identify research gaps in this specific area. Only two of the identified reviews focus on the aspect of DT use in the maintenance of transportation systems. First, the authors in [
3] focus on the aspect of Digital Twins integration and its influence on the development of transportation asset management systems. Second, Selvam et al. [
31] present a comprehensive analysis of the current state of the art in integrating DTs into the maintenance of integrated chargers in electric vehicles.
As a result, the proposed study presents an overview of the academic research on the DT applied in transportation systems operation and maintenance with a particular focus on internal transportation. The main objective of this study is to define the main research trends within this research area and to identify future research directions. In addition, based on the conducted literature review, a framework for DT in the internal transport sector is developed based on the physical asset management concept and ISO/DIS 23247 standards. As a result, the contribution of this paper toward the existing body of knowledge on DT in transportation systems is three-fold: 1) identification of the major research trends related to DT applications in transportation systems operation and maintenance; 2) presentation of future research directions in investigating of DT applied in transportation systems operation and maintenance; 3) development of a framework for DT in transportation system maintenance management.
Following this, the research questions are as follows:
- RQ1:
What is the current state of the literature on digital twin use in transportation systems operation and maintenance between 2012 and 2024?
- RQ2:
What are the main research and knowledge gaps in DT use in transportation systems operation and maintenance, especially in the context of in-house logistics?
- RQ3:
What are the future research directions and perspectives in DT modeling in the context of the operation and maintenance of transportation systems?
- RQ4:
What scope should the framework for digital twin for maintenance management of transportation systems have?
The paper answers the research questions raised above through the use of bibliometric performance analysis and systematic analysis using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) method [
32], aimed at summarizing and identifying the main research areas in the identified application fields.
In conclusion, the article is organized into seven sections (
Figure 1). After the Introduction (
Section 1), the Theoretical Background (
Section 2) introduces the Digital twin concept and discusses its application across transportation sectors. Review methodology (
Section 3) explains the main methods used for the review. This section also describes the strategy used for the literature search process performance and criteria that were applied to assess the relevance of analyzed documents.
Section 4 describes the main results of the conducted systematic literature review analysis for the selected papers on the seven identified application fields. Later,
Section 5 focuses on discussing the results of the identified application fields. Here, the literature research and knowledge gaps are also identified.
Section 6 provides a newly developed DT framework for the maintenance of transportation systems. The last part contains conclusions (
Section 7) with a summary of contributions, definitions of limitations, and recommendations for future studies presentation.
5. Discussion
The main aim of this paper is to conduct a comprehensive review of existing literature to provide a substantive analysis within the key areas of Digital Twin (DT) applications in the maintenance of transport systems. A total of 201 articles meeting the established selection criteria were reviewed, allowing for an in-depth examination of the analyzed issue. Such deep analysis gives the possibility to answer the stated research questions:
RQ1 intended to discover the leading trends in DT concept implementation in transportation systems O&P and investigate its evolution over the last decade. The main research outputs here are discussed broadly in
Section 4.1 and
Section 4.2.
In the defined seven application areas, the scope of issues covered is very complex, ranging from the presentation of technological solutions dedicated to predictive maintenance, condition monitoring, and forecasting to issues related to the analysis of acquired data and the need to make complex operational decisions (e.g., connected with path planning). In the studied years, the smallest number of publications regarding the use of DT was noted in supply chains and water and intermodal transport. These areas appear to be particularly promising for the further development of DT. In contrast, the remaining research areas (i.e., air, rail, land, and internal transport) show a similar number of publications. Additionally, interest in these areas has been increasing over the years.
There are several papers concerning topics primarily associated with the key terms of sensors, deep machine learning, the Internet of Things, or big data analytics. In the context of implementing Digital Twin (DT) technology to support the management of the technical maintenance processes of transportation means, several key areas where the digital twin approach is widely applied in transportation sectors can be identified:
technical condition monitoring: The digital twin enables continuous monitoring of the technical condition of vehicles and transportation infrastructure. Thanks to advanced sensors and IoT technologies, the DT can collect data on part wear, engine operating parameters, and even road conditions. This allows for the quick identification of potential technical problems and failures (see, e.g., [
8,
220]),
failure prediction: Based on the collected data, the DT can perform predictive analyses, forecasting future failures and technical issues. This allows for planning maintenance activities in advance, avoiding downtime and costly repairs (see, e.g., [
172,
251,
295]),
optimization of maintenance plans and schedules: Utilizing data from the digital twin, more effective maintenance plans can be developed (maintenance scheduling). The DT allows for the individual adjustment of inspection and repair schedules to the actual technical condition of vehicles, which helps reduce the maintenance costs of the transport fleet (see, e.g., [
306,
329]).
simulation and testing of new solutions: The digital twin enables the simulation of various operational scenarios and the testing of new technological solutions before their implementation in real conditions. This allows for the assessment of potential benefits and risks associated with the introduction of technological innovations in the operational activities of the transport fleet (see, e.g., [
286,
311]),
optimization of fuel consumption and operational efficiency: The DT can be used to analyze and optimize fuel consumption and improve the operational efficiency of vehicles. By monitoring engine operating parameters, driver behavior, and road conditions, the DT helps identify areas needing improvement and implement effective fuel-saving strategies (e.g., [
291,
296]),
remote technical support: Using remote connections and digital interfaces, the DT allows for providing technical support by experts from anywhere in the world. This enables quick problem diagnosis and provides real-time repair instructions and guidance (see, e.g., [
265]),
operational data analysis of the monitored fleet: The DT allows for the analysis of data collected from the entire fleet of vehicles, which helps identify trends and patterns related to failure rates, fuel consumption, and driver behavior. This information can be used to implement improvements and optimize fleet management processes (see, e.g., [
183]),
integration with management systems: The digital twin can be integrated with existing fleet and maintenance management systems, enabling automatic data transfer and collaboration between different platforms and applications. This helps streamline operations and improve data consistency and accessibility (see, e.g., [
326]),
safety and regulatory compliance: Implementing the DT in technical maintenance management requires addressing issues related to data security and compliance with regulatory requirements, such as data protection and occupational safety standards. Ensuring appropriate data protection measures and regulation compliance is crucial for successfully implementing the DT (e.g., [
279,
326]).
The conducted systematic analysis of the selected literature makes it possible to answer the second research question.
RQ2 intended to define the main research and knowledge gaps in DT use in transportation systems operation and maintenance, especially in the context of in-house logistics. The main research outputs in this application area are discussed broadly in
Section 4.2.6. Internal logistics is vital for enhancing organizational productivity and operational efficiency, involving various activities related to material flow management. Digital Twin (DT) applications in this domain include mobile robots, Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs), and decision support tools for logistics operations. Research covers DT architectures, real-time data streaming, and predictive maintenance for mobile robots and AGVs. Additionally, DT frameworks optimize warehouse management, monitor air quality, and improve safety. Overall, the integration of DT in internal logistics presents opportunities for innovation and efficiency gains. Indeed, in the realm of Digital Twin (DT) application in internal logistics, warehousing, and autonomous transportation, several knowledge and research gaps have emerged that warrant further exploration.
One prominent challenge lies in integrating DT technologies with existing logistics systems and processes. While various studies have discussed different architectural approaches, comprehensive frameworks that effectively address integration challenges across diverse platforms are still lacking. This presents an opportunity for research focused on establishing best practices that facilitate the seamless incorporation of DT into current logistics infrastructures. Moreover, the need for reliable real-time data processing remains a critical area for investigation. Although some research has delved into real-time data streaming for DT, there is limited understanding of ensuring data integrity, security, and reliability in dynamic environments. This knowledge gap highlights the need for studies exploring methodologies for achieving robust real-time data management, especially in mobile and autonomous systems where decision-making is time-sensitive.
Standardization also emerges as a significant issue within the DT landscape. The development of a standardized DT framework tailored to logistics operations, including mobile robots and AGVs, is yet to be comprehensively addressed. Future research could focus on creating standardized protocols and methodologies for designing and implementing DT across various logistics applications, ensuring consistency and interoperability.
While the potential of DT in predictive maintenance is recognized, gaps still exist in understanding the limitations of predictive models in varying operational contexts. More research is needed to quantify the accuracy and reliability of predictive analytics, especially concerning their application in different logistics scenarios. This would enhance the overall effectiveness of DT in preemptively addressing maintenance needs.
Another critical area of research pertains to the scalability of DT solutions. Current literature does not adequately document how to effectively scale DT applications from small to large operations without compromising their performance. Investigating scalable models would significantly contribute to the practical implementation of DT across diverse logistics environments.
User interaction and training also represent a significant knowledge gap. Understanding how users interact with DT systems and designing effective training programs for inexperienced operators is crucial for maximizing the benefits of DT technologies. Future studies should aim to develop user-friendly interfaces and comprehensive training methodologies that facilitate effective decision-making based on DT insights.
Interoperability issues between different logistics platforms and systems pose another challenge. Research should focus on creating methods that ensure seamless communication and data exchange between various DT systems, fostering a more integrated logistics ecosystem.
Furthermore, the impact of external factors, such as economic conditions, supply chain disruptions, or changes in consumer behavior, on DT performance has not been thoroughly investigated. Gaining insight into these external influences would enhance the robustness and adaptability of DT models in real-world logistics applications.
Regulatory compliance is another area that requires attention. Research on how to design DT applications that comply with regulatory standards in logistics and transportation, particularly regarding data protection and operational safety, is essential for promoting the responsible implementation of DT technologies.
Cross-disciplinary approaches integrating insights from fields such as artificial intelligence and machine learning into DT applications in logistics remain underexplored. Investigating how these technologies can enhance the capabilities of DT could lead to innovative solutions and improved operational efficiency.
Finally, the environmental impact of implementing DT in logistics is an area that deserves further investigation. Limited research exists on how DT can be leveraged to enhance sustainability practices in warehousing and transportation. Addressing these knowledge and research gaps will be crucial for advancing the effective implementation and optimization of Digital Twin technologies in internal logistics, warehousing, and autonomous transportation systems.
By addressing these knowledge and research gaps, future studies could contribute to effectively implementing and optimizing Digital Twin technologies in internal logistics, warehousing, and autonomous transportation systems.
RQ3 intended to discover the future research directions and perspectives in DT modeling in the context of the operation and maintenance of transportation systems.
Despite the evident development of modern technologies and their application in the transport industry observed over the past five years, there remains significant potential for further advancements in the area of transport maintenance. Numerous aspects can be innovated, covering both technological and organizational solutions in relation to DT concept implementation. Currently, key development directions include:
Predictive Diagnostics: The advancement of sophisticated diagnostic systems based on artificial intelligence and data analysis enables forecasting failures in advance. This allows for planning maintenance activities before problems arise, minimizing downtime and repair costs. Main developmental trends in this area include the application of advanced machine learning algorithms. Utilizing techniques such as regression algorithms, neural networks, and decision trees allows for more accurate data analysis and identifying patterns and anomalies that may indicate potential failures. Consequently, this enhances the precision of forecasting future technical issues.
Another widely analyzed area today is the integration with vehicle monitoring systems. Predictive diagnostics can be effectively utilized in conjunction with systems that monitor the technical condition of vehicles (AGVs, mobile robots). By integrating data from various sources, such as sensors, telemetry systems, or service databases, it is possible to obtain a comprehensive picture of the technical condition of the transport fleet. Modern solutions are also moving toward ensuring two-way communication between vehicles and servers.
An essential element of predictive diagnostics is optimizing the data collection, storage, and processing processes. It is crucial to focus on key technical parameters and factors influencing vehicle reliability to obtain the most relevant information for failure forecasting. Solutions based on blockchain technology and cloud-based systems will be increasingly important in this area in the near future.
Automation of maintenance processes is the next research area where we may identify research gaps. Implementing robotics and automation in maintenance processes can yield numerous benefits, including improved efficiency, task execution accuracy, and elimination of human errors. Robots can be employed to perform routine maintenance tasks, allowing staff to focus on more advanced responsibilities. The main development direction in this area is using robots, drones, and automated devices to carry out routine tasks such as mechanical inspections, cleaning, or even minor repairs.
Another trend is the implementation of advanced decision support systems based on artificial intelligence and data analysis, which allow for optimizing the planning and execution of maintenance activities. These systems can suggest optimal schedules for inspections and repairs, considering priorities, costs, and resource availability. Automating technical inspections can expedite their execution and enhance their accuracy. Employing advanced technologies like vision systems and measuring devices facilitates rapid and precise assessment of vehicle conditions, making identifying problems and planning repair actions easier. In this context, there is a search for new solutions for “smart maintenance” and proactive maintenance approaches.
Integrated inventory management: Utilizing IoT technologies and warehouse management systems allows for better monitoring and optimizing spare parts and consumables inventory levels. This helps avoid material shortages during repairs and reduces costs associated with excess inventory. The next step in building integrated inventory management systems after implementing RFID (Radio-Frequency Identification) technology is the introduction of inventory consumption monitoring systems. RFID technologies enable precise tracking of the location and condition of spare parts in warehouses. This facilitates the quick location of needed parts and minimizes the risk of material shortages during inspections and repairs. Consumption monitoring systems allow for continuous tracking of the technical condition of parts and forecasting replacement needs, enabling preemptive maintenance actions and inventory optimization, thereby reducing fleet maintenance costs.
There is also a trend in this area toward integrating inventory management systems with diagnostic systems and implementing IoT technologies, allowing for the automatic generation of spare parts orders based on the technical condition of vehicles. This enables swift responses to alarm signals and minimizes downtime due to material shortages.
The next research area is connected with mobile technologies and remote support. The development of mobile applications and remote technical support systems allows for quick diagnosis of problems and provision of repair instructions from anywhere, increasing the efficiency of maintenance activities and reducing vehicle downtime. The foundation of today’s proactive maintenance systems is the use of mobile applications by service personnel. This grants service staff quick access to essential data, operational instructions, and repair plans. These applications can also facilitate reporting failures, logging work hours, and communicating with team members, thereby enhancing operational efficiency.
The next step involves designing and implementing remote technical support systems, enabling rapid remote diagnosis of issues and providing repair guidance from specialists regardless of location. Utilizing tools like videoconferencing and remote access to diagnostic systems allows effective problem resolution even for vehicles located far away. Additionally, there is a growing trend towards employing augmented and virtual reality technologies to assist personnel during the execution of basic operational tasks and in training programs. This facilitates continuous skill enhancement and tailors training to individual needs and abilities.
Implementing a Digital Twin allows for simulating and monitoring vehicle behavior in real-time, leading to a better understanding of operational processes and identifying areas for improvement. In the design and implementation of fleet management systems, primary development directions will focus on developing optimization and forecasting models to minimize costs and enhance the operational efficiency of transport systems. Furthermore, literature reviews and practical implementations indicate the necessity of developing solutions that allow inter-departmental collaboration and data integration. Implementing a Digital Twin requires cooperation among different departments within a company and integration of data from various information systems. With appropriate technological solutions, it is possible to obtain a comprehensive view of the technical condition of the fleet and effectively coordinate maintenance activities at all levels of the organization.
Simultaneously, fundamental innovations regarding the design and implementation of the DT concept for ensuring the reliability and maintainability of internal transport systems will encompass:
technological innovations – transport companies will introduce new technologies, such as AI, robotics, the Internet of Things, AR, and VR, with a DT approach to improve the efficiency and reliability of maintenance processes,
organizational innovations – aimed at introducing new management methods, work procedures, or business models (e.g., Robot as a Service), which enable more efficient resource utilization and enhance the effectiveness of maintenance activities,
process innovations – focused on optimizing existing maintenance processes and introducing new strategies and tools that allow for quicker responses to changes in operational conditions and minimize the risk of failures.
In conclusion, several fundamental limitations and challenges must be considered when developing and implementing the DT approach for maintaining technical systems, including:
technical diagnostic issues: the necessity of monitoring and collecting significant amounts of information and processing this information for proper reporting.
investment costs: implementing modern technologies requires substantial financial investment, which will become evident through minimized repair and vehicle downtime costs due to better planning and resource utilization. The issue of investment profitability may limit companies.
data security in collection and transmission processes: ensuring the security of transmitted data and minimizing the risk of cyberattacks are key aspects to consider when implementing Industry 4.0 technologies.
The conducted systematic analysis of the selected literature makes it possible to answer the last research question.
RQ4 intended to define the framework’s scope for digital twins for the maintenance management of transportation systems.
According to the literature review, defining a framework’s scope for Digital Twins (DTs) in the maintenance management of transportation systems should involve outlining objectives, key components, and functionalities that facilitate effective management and optimization of transportation assets.
First, the objectives of the Digital Twin framework for maintenance management in transportation systems which should focus on enhancing asset reliability and operational efficiency through innovative technologies. Real-time monitoring allows for continuous assessment of asset conditions, facilitating immediate detection of anomalies and issues. Predictive maintenance leverages advanced analytics to foresee potential failures, enabling proactive actions that minimize downtime and associated costs. Performance optimization enhances operational efficiencies by providing actionable insights that guide data-driven decision-making processes.
Additionally, the framework supports simulation and testing, allowing virtual experimentation with various maintenance strategies. This capability enables organizations to evaluate the effectiveness of different approaches without disrupting actual operations, leading to improved maintenance practices.
The key components of the DT framework include the following:
Data acquisition and integration: this component involves collecting real-time data from various sources, including sensors, IoT devices, and existing management systems. It is crucial for creating a comprehensive digital representation of physical assets, as it enables aggregating relevant data such as operational conditions, maintenance history, and environmental factors. Effective integration of these diverse data streams ensures that the Digital Twin remains accurate and reflects the system’s status.
Data analytics and visualization: once the data is collected, advanced analytics techniques, including machine learning and statistical analysis, are employed to derive insights. This component helps identify data patterns, trends, and anomalies, facilitating predictive maintenance and decision-making. Visualization tools play a critical role in presenting complex data in a user-friendly manner, enabling stakeholders to interpret findings and make informed decisions easily.
Simulation and modeling: this aspect of the framework allows for creating of virtual models that replicate the behavior of physical assets under various conditions. Through simulation, organizations can test different maintenance scenarios, evaluate the impact of potential changes, and optimize maintenance schedules. This capability not only aids in risk assessment but also supports strategic planning and resource allocation.
Communication and collaboration tools: effective communication among stakeholders is essential for successfully implementing the Digital Twin framework. Collaborative tools enable seamless information sharing, ensuring that all team members, from maintenance personnel to management, are aligned and informed about asset status and maintenance activities.
Feedback mechanisms: a vital component of the Digital Twin framework is the establishment of feedback loops that facilitate continuous improvement. By analyzing the outcomes of maintenance actions and comparing them with the predictions made by the Digital Twin, organizations can refine their models and improve their predictive capabilities, leading to more effective maintenance strategies over time.
Together, these components create a robust framework that enhances the maintenance management of transportation systems, ultimately leading to increased operational efficiency, reduced costs, and improved asset longevity. In addition, these key components should be reflected in the physical and virtual layers of the DT.
The last issue is connected with the DT framework functionalities. In this area, we may distinguish six main functionalities:
condition monitoring – providing dashboards and alerts that reflect the real-time health status of assets, allowing for immediate action when anomalies are detected,
failure prediction – implementing predictive algorithms that analyze historical and real-time data to forecast potential failures and recommend maintenance actions accordingly,
maintenance scheduling – automatically generating and optimizing maintenance schedules based on predicted failure points, historical maintenance data, and operational requirements,
resource management – helping manage spare parts inventory and resource allocation by predicting the demand for parts based on the analysis of maintenance schedules,
reporting and compliance – facilitating reporting functionalities to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and standards in maintenance practices,
feedback loop – establishing a feedback mechanism to continuously improve the digital twin models and algorithms based on actual maintenance outcomes and operational experiences.
The Digital Twin framework for maintenance management in transportation systems should represent a transformative approach to enhancing asset performance, optimizing maintenance strategies, and ensuring operational efficiency. As organizations increasingly adopt digital transformation strategies, integrating the Digital Twin framework with existing systems becomes crucial for maximizing its potential and ensuring a seamless transition.
In summary, successfully implementing the Digital Twin framework for maintenance management in transportation systems hinges on effective integration with existing systems and a commitment to future scalability and adaptability. Organizations can enhance their maintenance strategies and operational efficiency by creating a cohesive ecosystem that leverages historical data and encourages cross-departmental collaboration. Moreover, by designing the framework with flexibility in mind, organizations can ensure that the Digital Twin continues to meet their evolving needs, driving long-term asset performance and reliability improvements. This forward-thinking approach positions organizations to thrive in an increasingly complex and dynamic transportation landscape.
6. Framework for DT in Transportation System Maintenance Management
The literature review highlights the growing importance of implementing Digital Twin (DT) in the maintenance management of internal logistics systems, particularly internal transportation systems. In the context of effective maintenance management, DT plays a significant role as it enables the evolution of maintenance strategies. Additionally, it enhances technical systems’ reliability, efficiency, and safety. Consequently, this article proposes conceptual frameworks for DT as a tool to support key activities related to physical asset management. It presents conceptual frameworks for DT in maintaining internal transportation systems.
In ISO 23247 [
359,
360,
361,
362], conceptual frameworks for DT are presented, which include two interworking areas: the physical system and the virtual space. According to this standard, the conceptual frameworks consist of three main layers of the model in the virtual part and a connected layer in the real area (
Figure 23).
Based on ISO 23247, a conceptual framework for DT in the maintenance of internal transportation systems can be proposed (
Figure 24).
The proposed conceptual framework’s first level (OE) pertains to the physical system. This includes all elements belonging to the internal transport system. Therefore, this layer encompasses not only the infrastructure of the space and its fixed elements (e.g., transport devices, storage racks) but also monitors the flow of goods and environmental conditions. These elements are continuously monitored using various measuring devices. The data collected from the OE layer forms the basis for creating the virtual part of the digital twin, which is an exact replica of the real system.
Data obtained from the real system is collected and analyzed in the communication unit (Level II). This unit effectively communicates between the physical elements and their digital twin or directly with the user unit. Two subunits are distinguished in this area: the data collection subunit and the device control subunit. Data collected from the observed elements are transmitted to the digital twin unit to update the real system’s virtual copy continuously. Additionally, this data can be directly transferred to the user unit. The device control subunit controls and activates OE elements in response to requests from the user or DT units. This communication link between the real system, the user unit, and the DT unit enables the entire system to operate in two modes:
- -
fully automated mode, where a closed-loop connection exists between the communication unit and the DT unit,
- -
semi-automated mode, where feedback with instructions comes directly from the user unit.
The conceptual framework’s main component is the digital twin unit (Level III). Here, a virtual model of the internal transport system is developed based on data collected from Level I. This model reflects the real state and behavior of each system element. It is systematically updated based on newly collected data to ensure consistency with the actual state of the system. Additionally, this area includes a cache that stores current and historical information about each element of the real system.
The next level, Level IV – the user unit, is designed to enable employees to manage the digital twin and facilitate interpreting results generated by the DT unit. The main tasks in this area include defining maintenance goals and tasks, collecting maintenance data, and generating task commands. This unit contains functions that allow monitoring of the OE and its digital twin and systems responsible for simulation, forecasting, data analysis, and reporting. Additionally, the user can support maintenance decision-making from this level, allowing the system to operate in semi-automated mode. The user layer should also allow integration with other systems and tools, enabling information exchange between different platforms.
The proposed conceptual framework also includes a cross-system entity that facilitates communication between all units in the system. Data transmitted and received must be recorded in a language understandable to the communicating units. Intermediary systems are used to translate communication protocols between different units to ensure uniform data. Additionally, integration platforms are used to facilitate data flow and state synchronization between the real system and the digital twin. This intermediary unit also includes systems responsible for supporting data security.