Digital Twin Architecture for Rail Transport

An in-depth system analysis of architectural approaches to the construction and implementation of digital twins in railway transport is presented, which is a key stage in the digital transformation of the industry. Purpose: to systematize architectural approaches to the creation of digital twins, analyze key technological solutions and develop recommendations for their integration into a single digital ecosystem of infrastructure and rolling stock management. Methods: a comparative study of the world’s leading platforms (Siemens Railigent X, Bentley iTwin, Dassault 3DEXPERIENCE) and domestic developments was conducted, which revealed the limitations of existing solutions in terms of adaptation to the specifics of railway automation and telemechanics. Results: unlike traditional fragmented information systems, the concept of a “single source of truth” is proposed, based on the seamless integration of BIM, PLM and SCADA technologies, which allows for end-to-end lifecycle management of transport assets. The scientific novelty of the research lies in the development and detailing of a five-level hierarchical model of the digital twin, which combines the level of physical objects and sensors, data transmission channels, a storage platform and digital models, an analytical layer and visualization interfaces. Practical significance: due to the description of the mechanisms of transition from planned preventive maintenance to predictive and risk-oriented management. It is shown that the implementation of the proposed architecture makes it possible to predict critical malfunctions (for example, defects in axle boxes) several months before their occurrence and to conduct simulation of various operational scenarios. The research results can be used in the design of intelligent infrastructure and rolling stock management systems to improve the safety and economic efficiency of the transportation process.