Overview
ISO/IEC 30173:2023 - Digital twin - Concepts and terminology defines a common vocabulary and conceptual framework for digital twins (DTw). Published by ISO/IEC JTC1/SC41 (Internet of Things and Digital Twin), this 2023 international standard establishes terms, definitions and core concepts - such as the digital twin system context, life cycle, types, functional views and stakeholders - to enable consistent communication, interoperability and standards development across domains.
Key topics and technical focus
ISO/IEC 30173:2023 is primarily a terminology and conceptual reference. Key technical topics covered include:
- Terms and definitions for general, data-related, model-related, performance-related and application-related digital twin concepts.
- Digital twin system context - how a digital twin relates to its target entity, services, infrastructure and application domains.
- Life cycle process for digital twin - phases and activities for creating, operating, maintaining and retiring a digital twin.
- Types of digital twin - component, asset, system and process digital twins and their scope.
- Functional view - core functions, information flows and interfaces that compose a digital twin solution.
- Stakeholders and roles - developers, resource providers, integrators, users, operators and ecosystem partners.
- Relationships to related technologies - how digital twins relate to simulation, cyber-physical systems, Internet of Things (IoT) and semiotics for modelling meaning.
This document contains no normative references; its purpose is to provide a common basis for understanding rather than prescriptive technical requirements.
Practical applications and who should use it
ISO/IEC 30173:2023 is useful anywhere digital twins are designed, specified or discussed:
- Standards developers and technical committees seeking consistent definitions for new specifications.
- Architects and system integrators designing digital twin platforms, data models and integration patterns.
- Product managers and engineers building component, asset or system digital twins in manufacturing, energy, healthcare, buildings, cities, agriculture and mining.
- Research teams and educators teaching or evaluating digital twin concepts and life cycles.
- Policy makers and procurement specialists needing a common vocabulary for contracts, compliance and interoperability.
Practical benefits include clearer requirements, reduced ambiguity between stakeholders, improved interoperability planning and a shared foundation for cross‑domain digital twin initiatives.
Related standards and context
- Prepared by ISO/IEC JTC1/SC41 (Internet of Things and Digital Twin), ISO/IEC 30173:2023 is intended to support the development of other standards and to harmonize terminology across existing digital twin, IoT and cyber‑physical system standards. Users should consult domain‑specific standards for normative technical requirements where applicable.
Keywords: ISO/IEC 30173, digital twin concepts and terminology, digital twin life cycle, digital twin stakeholders, digital twin system context, digital twin applications.