Borjigin, O., Sturts Dossick, C., Treece, B., Thonstad, T., Bernard, T., & Motley, M. (2026). Developing digital twins for bridge infrastructure: Roadmap and challenges from a proof-of-concept R&D study. Journal of Information Technology in Construction (ITcon), 31, 917-938. https://doi.org/10.36680/j.itcon.2026.039.
Abstract
The exploration of Digital Twins (DT) technology in the Architecture, Engineering, Construction, and Operation (AECO) industry has gained momentum in recent years, with numerous studies proposing frameworks for its development. However, few real-world infrastructure applications have been systematically documented to guide future practitioners and researchers. This study addresses this gap by providing an empirical example of DT design and development through a proof-of-concept research and development (R&D) project. The I-90 Homer M. Hadley Bridge (I-90 Bridge) DT project, led by the University of Washington (UW) DT research team, was selected as a case study to demonstrate the application of DT technology for bridge health monitoring. Using a vignette-style narrative approach, the study integrates data from semi-structured interviews with project team members and project documentation generated during the project to illustrate how the system was conceptualized, developed, and delivered. The findings reveal that interoperability emerged as a consistent theme throughout the project, including technical challenges (legacy systems, proprietary programming, lack of standardization) and organizational challenges (multi-stakeholder engagement, organizational silos). Recognizing these challenges can help practitioners and researchers better identify key problems to address, thereby supporting a successful adoption of DT technologies.
Keywords
Digital Twins; Bridge Infrastructure; Organizational Interoperability; Technical Interoperability; Research & Development; Case Study