A digital twin framework for large comprehensive ports and a case study of Qingdao Port

The increase in port scale and business complexity has led to an increased demand for comprehensive and lean control on ports. The current operation mode is facing the bottleneck of the increasingly significant production efficiency and performance. Digital twin (DT) technology realizes holographic visual management and control patterns using cyber-physical fusion and promotes the transformation of a port to an intelligent operation mode. In this paper, the framework of a digital twin application system is proposed based on the analysis of business characteristics of large-scale comprehensive ports. Construction methods and technologies such as digital twin modeling, global ubiquitous perception, data mapping, and model fusion are analyzed. With regard to the construction needs of Qingdao Port’s digital twin system, this paper presents a case study and illustrates the overall design process and function of the digital twin system for typical terminals. The system realizes the intelligent operation of the port with the core functions of three-dimensional visual monitoring and optimal dispatching based on real-time perception data. This paper serves as a feasible reference for future intelligent development of large ports and the application of digital twin technology.