Efficient twinning in the digital twin of the road system

The envisioned „Digital Twin of the Road System” requires a distributed but up-to-date and consistent management of all digital artifacts that are being generated by the road system and the vehicle, i.e. models and descriptions of behavior, and also the sensor and position data of the existing road system. Therefore, the “Digital Twin of the Road Systems” is integrating sensor data, data models and simulation in order to mirror the current state of the physical twin of the road system and derive forecasting statements.

For any part of the real road system there exists at least one model and one set of data that is evolving over time.

Models in the digital twin generate results that correspond directly or indirectly to a measured value, thus, at any point in time it is possible to compare or rather to synchronize the digital twin with the real road system.

A continuous synchronization of the physical and the digital twin is required via adaptation: It is necessary to maintain an analogy or rather a conformity of model results and real-life values that is within the boundaries of certain fixed limits.

The fundamental concept of a system for data processing and data synchronization is depicted in the figure above. Here, a central element is to compare every model of the digital twin with real life values. It is important to first define the notion of synchrony of the various model types with their corresponding real-life values. Should a breach of synchrony of a real-life part of the road system and the corresponding model be detected, an adaptation of the model is possible.

On the other hand, also adaptations of the fundamental data processing level can be required in order to measure the real-life values in compliance with the necessities.

In this subproject, data requirements will be developed that are continuously being adjusted on the basis of the continuous synchronization and that are being implemented by an adaptive data processing layer.