Towards greener transportation infrastructure through innovative digital twins assessment : study case in Uzbekistan

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to evaluate the use of digital due diligence in infrastructure projects through a real case study. As part of the Sustainable Development Goals, innovative digital tools are being developed to provide an advanced impact assessment, and virtual models such as digital twins are a promising technology for infrastructure projects. These models can not only provide an accurate representation, but also be used to run simulations, identify, and evaluate performance issues and generate possible improvements, leading to a more resilient and sustainable design. The selected case study, the upgrade of the 4R180 rural road section located in Uzbekistan, was supported by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in partnership with ORIS, to pilot a multiple-scenario digital analysis of its pavement design. First, data gathering was required to define the local context and the design solutions to be evaluated. Then, through the ORIS platform, the project and design options were digitised. The assessment of the results obtained from the ORIS platform showed that the pavement performance over its lifespan can be significantly improved by making informed and datadriven decisions at an early stage of the project.