The　advent　of　Industry　4.　0　has　spawned　the　widespread　application　of　digital　twin　technology,　providing　digital　solutions　for　intelligent　manufacturing　and　product　life-cycle　management.　In　the　field　of　civil　engineering,　the　enhancement　of　digital　disaster　prevention　and　civil　structure　management　is　a　critical　component　in　the　development　of　future　smart　cities.　On　one　hand,　the　establishment　of　precise　and　reliable　digital　twins　of　real-life　civil　structures　can　facilitate　disaster　prevention　from　extreme　hazards,　as　well　as　identify　and　warn　against　potential　risks.　On　the　other　hand,　digital　twins　lay　the　foundation　for　technological　advancements　in　the　digital　construction　and　management　of　future　cities.　This　study　first　categorizes　the　fundamental　concepts　and　developmental　stages　of　digital　twin　technology.　Then,　the　acquisition　of　twining　data　and　construction　of　digital　twins　for　civil　structures　are　systematically　summarized.　Building　on　this　foundation,　a　comprehensive　review　and　outlook　is　presented　on　the　application　of　digital　twin　technology　in　civil　engineering,　encompassing　the　operation　and　maintenance　of　structures,　disaster　simulation　and　digital　twin　cities.　©　2024　Harbin　Institute　of　Technology.　All　rights　reserved.