Leveraging model-based systems and software engineering for digital twin engineering: Methods and digital thread opportunities

• Leveraging standards for the development of Digital Twin engineering method. • Discussing the opportunities of Digital Thread for Digital Twin engineering. • Illustrative use case presenting the first elements of the method. The Digital Twin (DT) is a reciprocally connected and synchronized representation of a physical asset so-called Physical Twin. DT is a central component of a Digital Twin System (DT System), that interconnects the DT and the Physical Twin, through different components, and executes the necessary functions such as exchanging, processing or storing data. The engineering of the DT System is a long and complex process which is poorly formalised by systematic methodological approaches despite the variety of techniques and technologies used by practitioners. Fittingly, Systems Engineering (SE) offers principles, processes, methodological tools and frameworks for the engineering and lifecycle management of complex systems. More precisely, Model-Based Systems and Software Engineering (MBSSE) places modelling activities at the centre of engineering practices to facilitate exchanges and iterations between stakeholders around the system of interest through its whole lifecycle. Stakeholders’ activities during system’s lifecycle produce digital items, perceived as Data, Information or Knowledge (DIK), which may be reused for DT System engineering. First, this paper discusses SE and MBSSE application for DT System engineering to identify the foundations of a DT System MBSSE. Second, a discussion about opportunities and research questions are presented to gather and manage items produced along lifecycle in a concept designated the Digital Thread. Indeed, Digital thread formalisation and exploitation lead various interests for DT System engineering.