BCA Meet Up - PTA #6

Digital Twins to support decision-making in road infrastructure asset management

This presentation shares the findings of a doctoral study on the use of Digital Twins to support decision-making in road infrastructure asset management, with a specific focus on South African toll roads.

The study responds to a common challenge in infrastructure digitalisation: the gap between the promise of Digital Twins and the practical realities of implementation. Drawing on literature, industry interviews, and framework validation, the presentation introduces a conceptual model structured around eight functional themes: Design, Monitor, Measure, Store, Analyse, Evaluate, Decide, and Act.

The discussion will focus on how Digital Twins can move beyond visualisation and isolated technology pilots to support better asset management decisions across the road infrastructure lifecycle. It will also consider the information requirements, governance structures, enabling technologies, and federated system architecture needed to make Digital Twins practical and operationally relevant.

While the research is grounded…