APPLICATION OF DIGITAL TWIN TECHNOLOGY FOR STRUCTURAL HEALTH INSPECTION OF PIERS USING TERRESTRIAL LASER SCANNING

Abstract

Monitoring the condition of structures like piers is important to ensure their safety and durability. Traditional inspection techniques are often time-consuming and lack precision in detecting early-stage deformations. This study explores the use of Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS) and Digital Twin (DT) technologies to generate a high-fidelity 3D model of a pier structure. TLS was used to collect detailed point cloud data, which was then processed to generate models of the pier from two different years, 2022 and 2025. By comparing these models, changes in the structure and surface flatness were identified. The results show that TLS provides highly detailed scans, which improve the ability to detect small deformations. The study finds that using TLS together with digital models is a dependable and efficient way to assess structural health without damaging the structure. Future research should focus on long-term monitoring with more frequent scans and combining TLS with other non-destructive testing techniques.