Digital twin enabled land administration systems: A multi-dimensional comparative assessment and policy pathways for Turkey

Digital twin technologies are increasingly promoted to move land administration from static, two-dimensional information systems toward dynamic platforms that support real-time governance. Yet most existing studies focus on single-country pilots or narrow technical design, offering limited insight into how digital twins are embedded in legal, institutional and participatory frameworks. This paper develops and applies an eight-dimension comparative framework to examine Digital Twin–enabled Land Administration Systems (DT-LAS) in eight jurisdictions (South Korea, Singapore, China, the Netherlands, Finland, the United Kingdom, Australia and Canada), with Turkey analysed as an emerging adopter. Methodologically, the study combines structured document analysis of national strategies, international standards and peer-reviewed research with an evidence-informed maturity scoring system, synthesised in a cross-country matrix and a two-mode country–dimension network visualisation. The analysis shows that data interoperability and sustainability function as central structural hubs within the global DT-LAS landscape, whereas citizen participation consistently emerges as the weakest dimension. High DT-LAS maturity is associated not only with advanced three-dimensional (3D) and four-dimensional (4D) cadastre, Internet of Things (IoT) and Building Information Modelling (BIM) integration, but also with investment in standards-based spatial data infrastructures, cross-agency coordination and evolving cultures of citizen engagement. Turkey demonstrates strong cadastral digitisation capacity through the Land Registry and Cadastre Information System (TAKBIS) and the Spatial Property System (MEGSIS) but remains constrained by fragmented institutional arrangements and limited participatory mechanisms. The paper proposes a context-sensitive implementation roadmap for Turkey, linking technical capacity with legal, institutional and participatory reforms.