Digital twin adoption in port authorities: a structured framework for use case assessment

Abstract Digital Twin (DT) technology has considerable potential to transform port operations, yet high implementation costs and uncertain benefits have constrained its adoption. This study examines how port authorities can plan and prioritise DT applications. Drawing on seventy-seven interviews at the Port of Barcelona (PoB) and twelve further interviews with international ports, eighty potential use cases were identified. These were grouped into three categories of users—Operations, Support and Administrative, and Linking—and assessed against nine evaluation criteria. The analysis shows that most ports remain in the early stages of adoption, pursuing diverse strategies and objectives. While many applications promise substantial value in terms of time savings, cross-departmental benefits, and sustainability, they often demand significant resources and lengthy implementation. A prioritisation exercise revealed a clear preference for high-impact use cases with lower resource requirements. Operational departments emphasised predictive and optimisation tools, administrative units focused on real-time monitoring and linking functions prioritised management and coordination. Comparison with international cases confirms a strong alignment, particularly around operational efficiency.