Digital Twin for enhancing digitalization and intelligence of ship design and operation management: technologies, applications, and challenges

The adoption of Digital Twin (DT) technologies can enhance digitalization and intelligence of the waterborne transport through computer-aided optimization design and intelligent management. However, the lack of systematic analysis on the DT technology makes it difficult to provide strong guidance to enhance the digitization and intelligence of the waterborne transport. Therefore, the current state of research and applications of DT technologies for the waterborne transport is systematically analyzed. On this foundation, the key challenges are analyzed and, solutions are suggested to provide valuable guidance for advancing the intelligent development of the waterborne transport by adopting DT technology. The analysis results show that the DT technology can contribute to the intelligent design and operation of the complex system and equipment, thereby enhancing digitalization and intelligence of the waterborne transport. The application of DT methodology should be further strengthened in the future to continuously enhance the digital and intelligent development of the waterborne transport.