The development of a digital twin concept system

Abstract

Background: Digital twins are gaining ever-increasing attention from academies and industries to standardization bodies worldwide owing to their great capabilities and fundamental values in the coming fourth industrial revolution. However, there is no consistent set of definitions or concept system of the digital twin domain yet. Especially, the polysemy problem of the term “digital twin” is leading to ambiguities and an obstacle to standardization. Methods: This paper summarizes the principles and guidelines of developing a concept system mentioned in two international standards, enriches them to a methodology of developing a concept system with (1) system thinking viewpoints and systems engineering methods, (2) procedures for analyzing the semantic relationships among candidate superordinate concepts, and (3) a three-dimensional taxonomy framework with procedures of developing a taxonomy, and proposed a maturity level model for terminology work which offers a high-level vision of digital twin terminology work. Results: This paper analyzes the polysemy phenomenon of the term "digital twin” and identifies the necessity to differentiate digital twin entity and digital twin system from the general term “digital twin”. After analyzing twenty-one definitions of digital twin and summarizing ten superordinate concepts from them, this paper proposes that a digital twin entity is a kind of digital asset rather than digital representation. Based on the new superordinate concept and definition of digital twin entity, a systematic digital twin concept system is developed with one hundred concepts and fifty definitions. Conclusions: This work resolves the polysemy problem of the term “digital twin” and demonstrates the effectiveness of the enhanced methodology of developing a concept system. The proposed digital twin concept system could be a benchmark for future digital twin terminology work and useful input to the development of digital twin system reference architecture standard and lays a solid foundation for future concept systems development of other domains.