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Analysis of institutional authors

Aragóon, AAuthorEnfedaque, AAuthorAlberti, MgCorresponding AuthorPavon, RmAuthorYague, AAuthor

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September 11, 2025
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Seeking a Definition of Digital Twins for Construction and Infrastructure Management

Publicated to: Applied Sciences-Basel. 15 (3): 1557- - 2025-02-01 15(3), DOI: 10.3390/app15031557

Authors:

Aragon, Aitor; Arquier, Mathieu; Tokdemir, Onur Behzat; Enfedaque, Alejandro; Alberti, Marcos Garcia; Lieval, Fabien; Loscos, Eduard; Pavon, Ruben Munoz; Novischi, Dan Marius; Legazpi, Pablo Vicente; Yague, Angel
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Affiliations

- Author
Bldg Digital Twin Assoc BDTA - Author
Ecole Natl Ponts & Chaussees ENPC - Author
Istanbul Tech Univ, Civil Engn Dept, Turkiye - Author
Univ Politecn Madrid UPM, Escuela Tecn Super Ingn Caminos Canales & Puertos - Author
Univ Politehn Bucuresti, Fac Automat Control & Comp - Author
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Abstract

The integration of digital twins (DTs) in construction is still in its infancy compared to other sectors. However, the potential for optimising project lifecycle management is significant, promising transformative impacts on safety and operational performance. In this study, the evolution of technologies preceding DTs is explored. A detailed description of the various platforms where DTs can be implemented is discussed and parallels are established with other sectors, such as manufacturing and healthcare, highlighting the successful application of DTs in these fields. The key benefits of integrating DTs in the construction industry and complex infrastructure management are assessed, emphasising that the accuracy of asset representation is crucial for their effective utilisation. Moreover, the challenges associated with recording, storing, and accessing both static and dynamic data are discussed, providing insights into the pros and cons of managing data through back-end versus front-end processes. Case studies of a transport railway station and an educational centre illustrate the practical applications and advantages of DTs, such as enhanced visual representation, improved understanding of construction and management dynamics, real-time information integration, and collaborative management processes. This paper advocates for the first steps toward establishing a European definition of DTs and standardising the relevant processes.
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Keywords

Built assetConstruction industryDigital twinsLifecycle managementStandardisation

Quality index

Bibliometric impact. Analysis of the contribution and dissemination channel

The work has been published in the journal Applied Sciences-Basel due to its progression and the good impact it has achieved in recent years, according to the agency WoS (JCR), it has become a reference in its field. In the year of publication of the work, 2025, it was in position 50/179, thus managing to position itself as a Q2 (Segundo Cuartil), in the category Engineering, Multidisciplinary. Notably, the journal is positioned en el Cuartil Q2 para la agencia Scopus (SJR) en la categoría Engineering (Miscellaneous).

Independientemente del impacto esperado determinado por el canal de difusión, es importante destacar el impacto real observado de la propia aportación.

Según las diferentes agencias de indexación, el número de citas acumuladas por esta publicación hasta la fecha 2026-04-25:

  • Google Scholar: 13
  • WoS: 8
  • Scopus: 9
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Impact and social visibility

From the perspective of influence or social adoption, and based on metrics associated with mentions and interactions provided by agencies specializing in calculating the so-called "Alternative or Social Metrics," we can highlight as of 2026-04-25:

  • The use, from an academic perspective evidenced by the Altmetric agency indicator referring to aggregations made by the personal bibliographic manager Mendeley, gives us a total of: 44.
  • The use of this contribution in bookmarks, code forks, additions to favorite lists for recurrent reading, as well as general views, indicates that someone is using the publication as a basis for their current work. This may be a notable indicator of future more formal and academic citations. This claim is supported by the result of the "Capture" indicator, which yields a total of: 43 (PlumX).

With a more dissemination-oriented intent and targeting more general audiences, we can observe other more global scores such as:

    It is essential to present evidence supporting full alignment with institutional principles and guidelines on Open Science and the Conservation and Dissemination of Intellectual Heritage. A clear example of this is:

    • The work has been submitted to a journal whose editorial policy allows open Open Access publication.
    • Assignment of a Handle/URN as an identifier within the deposit in the Institutional Repository: https://oa.upm.es/94774/

    As a result of the publication of the work in the institutional repository, statistical usage data has been obtained that reflects its impact. In terms of dissemination, we can state that, as of

    • Views: 28
    • Downloads: 7
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    Leadership analysis of institutional authors

    This work has been carried out with international collaboration, specifically with researchers from: Belgium; France; Oman; Turkey.

    There is a significant leadership presence as some of the institution’s authors appear as the first or last signer, detailed as follows: First Author (ARAGON BASABE, AITOR) and Last Author (YAGÜE HERNAN, ANGEL).

    the author responsible for correspondence tasks has been GARCIA ALBERTI, MARCOS.

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    Project objectives

    El presente trabajo tiene como objetivos analizar la evolución tecnológica previa a los gemelos digitales (DTs) en construcción, describir detalladamente las plataformas de implementación de DTs, establecer paralelismos con otros sectores como manufactura y salud, evaluar los beneficios clave de integrar DTs en la gestión de infraestructuras complejas, enfatizando la precisión en la representación de activos, discutir los desafíos en el manejo de datos estáticos y dinámicos mediante procesos back-end y front-end, e ilustrar mediante casos prácticos las aplicaciones y ventajas de los DTs, promoviendo así los primeros pasos hacia la definición y estandarización europea de los gemelos digitales.
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    Most relevant results

    La aportación analiza el estado actual y potencial de los gemelos digitales (DTs) en la construcción e infraestructura. Se identifican los siguientes resultados relevantes: se explora la evolución tecnológica previa a los DTs y se describen detalladamente las plataformas de implementación; se establecen paralelismos con sectores como manufactura y salud donde los DTs han tenido éxito; se evalúan los beneficios clave, destacando la importancia de la precisión en la representación de activos; se discuten los desafíos en la gestión de datos estáticos y dinámicos, comparando procesos back-end y front-end; y se presentan casos prácticos en una estación ferroviaria y un centro educativo que evidencian mejoras en visualización, integración en tiempo real y gestión colaborativa.
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