A Review of Digital Twins in Smart Environments

Transcending static digital representations, a Digital Twin (DT) functions as a dynamic, computational counterpart of a physical asset, capturing its real-time state and behavior through continuous data exchange. This mirroring capability positions DTs as a key enabler of intelligent operations in complex smart environments, from optimizing energy usage in buildings to managing urban infrastructure and transforming industrial processes. Despite their potential, DT deployment faces significant challenges related to data integration, scalability, interoperability, and critically, security and privacy. This paper presents a comprehensive review of Digital Twin technologies within the context of smart environments. It traces the evolution of the DT concept from its early origins to contemporary use cases, and outlines how various domains are leveraging DTs for enhanced performance, decision-making, and resilience.