Chapter 1
State of the Art of Digital Twins for Built Environments
Publication: Digital Twins in Construction and the Built Environment
Abstract
There has been increasing interest in the term digital twin (DT) in recent years. In built environments, DT is still a new concept, although it is becoming more appealing to the academic scholars and practitioners in the architecture, engineering, construction, and operation industries since the perceived applications of DT address long-term challenges such as the lack of efficiency and productivity. This chapter aims to navigate the key aspects of DT adoption and implementation (e.g., DT's components, stakeholders, and enabling technologies) to provide more holistic and systematic insights into DT deployment for the built environments. It defines the two concepts of DT characteristics and components. The chapter makes a comparison between Building Information Modeling and DT technologies in terms of their data requirements, ontological structures of their databases, use cases, implementation approaches, and scales of deployment.
Get full access to this chapter
View all available purchase options and get full access to this chapter.
Data Availability Statement
All data that support the findings of this study (including tables and figures) are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
References
Arup. 2019. “Digital twin: Towards a meaningful framework.” Accessed December 5, 2021. https://www.arup.com/perspectives/publications/research/section/digital-twin-towards-a-meaningful-framework.
Austin, M., P. Delgoshaei, M. Coelho, and M. Heidarinejad. 2020. “Architecting smart city digital twins: Combined semantic model and machine learning approach.” J. Manage. Eng. 36 (4): 04020026.
Barykin, S. Y., A. A. Bochkarev, O. V. Kalinina, and V. K. Yadykin. 2020. “Concept for a supply chain digital twin.” Int. J. Math. Eng. Manage. Sci. 5 (6): 1498–1515.
Becerik-Gerber, B., F. Jazizadeh, N. Li, and G. Calis. 2012. “Application areas and data requirements for BIM-enabled facilities management.” J. Constr. Eng. Manage. 138 (3): 431–442.
Boje, C., A. Guerriero, S. Kubicki, and Y. Rezgui. 2020. “Towards a semantic construction digital twin: Directions for future research.” Autom. Constr. 114: 103179.
Bolton, A., M. Enzer, J. Schooling, L. Butler, et al. 2018. The Gemini principles: Guiding values for the national digital twin and information management framework. West Cambridge, UK: Centre for Digital Built Britain and Digital Framework Task Group.
Boschert, S., C. Heinrich, and R. Rosen. 2018. “Next generation digital twin.” In Proc., Int. Symp. on Tools and Methods of Competitive Engineering, edited by I. Horváth, J. P. Suárez Rivero, and P. M. Hernández Castellano, 209–218. Delft, Netherlands: Delft University of Technology.
Brilakis, I., Y. Pan, A. Borrmann, H. Mayer, et al. 2019. “Built environment digital twinning.” Accessed May 15, 2021. https://publications.cms.bgu.tum.de/reports/2020_Brilakis_BuiltEnvDT.pdf.
Brink, B. 2020. “Take BIM processes to the next level with digital twins.” Accessed May 15, 2021. https://blog.buildingsmart.org/blog/take-bim-processes-to-the-next-level-with-digital-twins.
Burande, S. 2019. “How to realize the value of the digital twin.” Accessed December 1, 2020. https://blogs.3ds.com/northamerica/how-to-realize-the-value-of-the-digital-twin/.
Castro, D. 2019. “Digital twin technology can make smart cities even smarter.” Accessed December 15, 2020. https://www.govtech.com/smart-cities/Digital-Twin-Technology-Can-Make-Smart-Cities-Even-Smarter.html.
Dawkins, O., A. Dennett, and A. Hudson-Smith. 2018. “Living with a digital twin: Operational management and engagement using IoT and mixed realities at UCL's here East Campus on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.” In Proc., 26th Ann. GIScience Research UK Conf. Leicester, UK: University of Leicester.
Day, M. 2020. “Discussing digital twins.” https://aecmag.com/component/content/article/59-features/1932-discussing-digital-twins.
Errandonea, I., S. Beltrán, and S. Arrizabalaga. 2020. “Digital twin for maintenance: A literature review.” Compute Ind. 123: 103316.
Evans, S., C. Savian, A. Burns, and C. Cooper. 2019. “Digital twins for the built environment: An introduction to the opportunities, benefits, challenges and risks.” Accessed December 15, 2020. https://www.snclavalin.com/∼/media/Files/S/SNC-Lavalin/documents/beyond-engineering/digital-twins-for-the-built-environment-iet-atkins.pdf.
Fischer, M., and A. Agrawal. 2020. “Digital twin for construction.” Accessed October 1, 2020. https://cife.stanford.edu/Seed2019%20DigitalTwin.
Ford, D. N., and C. M. Wolf. 2020. “Smart cities with digital twin systems for disaster management.” J. Manage. Eng. 36 (4): 04020027.
GE Digital. 2017. “Digital twins: The bridge between industrial assets and the digital world.” Accessed November 15, 2021. https://www.ge.com/digital/blog/digital-twins-bridge-between-industrial-assets-and-digital-world.
Grieves, M., and J. Vickers. 2017. “Digital twin: Mitigating unpredictable, undesirable emergent behavior in complex systems.” In Transdisciplinary Perspectives on Complex Systems: New Findings and Approaches, edited by J. Kahlen, S. Flumerfelt, and A. Alves, 85–113. Cham, Switzerland: Springer.
Gürdür Broo, D., M. Bravo-Haro, and J. Schooling. 2022. “Design and implementation of a smart infrastructure digital twin.” Autom. Constr. 136: 104171.
International Facility Management Association and P. Teicholz. 2013. BIM for facility managers. New York: Wiley.
Jiang, F., L. Ma, T. Broyd, and K. Chen. 2021. “Digital twin and its implementations in the civil engineering sector.” Autom. Constr. 130: 103838.
Jones, D., C. Snider, A. Nassehi, J. Yon, et al. 2020. “Characterising the digital twin: A systematic literature review.” CIRP J. Manuf. Sci. Technol. 29: 36–52.
Kan, C., and C. J. Anumba. 2019. “Digital twins as the next phase of cyber-physical systems in construction.” Comput. Civil Eng. 9: 256–264.
Khajavi, S. H., N. Hossein Motlagh, A. Jaribion, L. C. Werner, et al. 2019. “Digital twin: Vision, benefits, boundaries, and creation for buildings.” IEEE Access 7: 147406–147419.
Kritzinger, W., M. Karner, G. Traar, J. Henjes, et al. 2018. “Digital twin in manufacturing: A categorical literature review and classification.” IFAC-PapersOnLine 51 (11): 1016–1022.
Lim, K. Y. H., P. Zheng, and C.-H. Chen. 2020. “A state-of-the-art survey of digital twin: Techniques, engineering product lifecycle management and business innovation perspectives.” J. Intell. Manuf. 31: 1313–1337.
Lu, Q., A. K. Parlikad, P. Woodall, G. Don Ranasinghe, et al. 2020a. “Developing a digital twin at building and city levels: Case study of West Cambridge Campus.” J. Manage. Eng. 36 (3): 05020004.
Lu, Q., X. Xie, A. K. Parlikad, and J. M. Schooling. 2020b. “Digital twin-enabled anomaly detection for built asset monitoring in operation and maintenance.” Autom. Constr. 118: 103277.
Madni, A. M., C. C. Madni, and S. D. Lucero. 2019. “Leveraging digital twin technology in model-based systems engineering.” Systems 7 (1): 7.
Mae Armstrong, M. 2020. “Cheat sheet: What is digital twin?” Accessed May 15, 2021. https://www.ibm.com/blogs/internet-of-things/iot-cheat-sheet-digital-twin/.
Markets and Markets. 2020. “Digital twin market by technology, type, application, industry | COVID-19 impact analysis | MarketsandMarkets™.” Accessed October 15, 2021. https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/digital-twin-market-225269522.html.
Microsoft. 2017. “The promise of a digital twin strategy.” Accessed December 1, 2020. https://info.microsoft.com/rs/157-GQE-382/images/Microsoft%27s%20Digital%20Twin%20%27How-To%27%20Whitepaper.pdf.
Negri, E., L. Fumagalli, and M. Macchi. 2017. “A review of the roles of digital twin in CPS-based production systems.” Procedia Manuf. 11: 939–948.
Nhede, N. 2018. “The digital twin maturity continuum.” Accessed November 10, 2021. https://www.smart-energy.com/policy-regulation/digital-twins-maturity-continuum-david-socha/.
Olcott, S., and C. Mullen. 2020. “Digital Twin Consortium defines digital twin.” Accessed December 10, 2020. https://blog.digitaltwinconsortium.org/2020/12/digital-twin-consortium-defines-digital-twin.html.
Parris, C. “What is a digital twin?” Accessed December 30, 2020. https://www.ge.com/digital/blog/what-digital-twin.
Parrott, A., and L. Warshaw. 2017. “Industry 4.0 and the digital twin: Manufacturing meets its match.” https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/focus/industry-4-0/digital-twin-technology-smart-factory.html.
Pennsylvania State University. “BIM uses.” Accessed December 15, 2021. https://bim.psu.edu/uses/.
Pettey, C. 2017. “Prepare for the impact of digital twins.” Accessed December 15, 2020. https://www.gartner.com/smarterwithgartner/prepare-for-the-impact-of-digital-twins.
Rasheed, A., O. San, and T. Kvamsdal. 2020. “Digital twin: Values, challenges and enablers from a modeling perspective.” IEEE Access 8: 21980–21912.
Scotland, A., J. Cameron, L. Morton-Cox, and N. Greenstreet. 2021. “Digital twins, an ABAB position paper.” Accessed January 15, 2022. https://www.abab.net.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/ABAB-Digital-Twins-Position-Paper-Web-210118.pdf.
Scott, J. R. 2021. “Three key facts about digital twins and related Proptech.” Accessed March 20, 2022. https://www.us.jll.com/en/views/three-key-facts-about-digital-twins-and-related-proptech.
Shafto, M., M. Conroy, R. Doyle, E. Glaessgen, et al. 2010. Modeling, simulation, information technology & processing roadmap. Technology Area 11. Washington, DC: National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
Shahzad, M., M. T. Shafiq, D. Douglas, and M. Kassem. 2022. “Digital twins in built environments: An investigation of the characteristics, applications, and challenges.” Buildings 12 (2): 120.
Siemens. “Digital twin.” Accessed November 15, 2021. https://www.plm.automation.siemens.com/global/en/our-story/glossary/digital-twin/24465.
Stark, R., S. Kind, and S. Neumeyer. 2017. “Innovations in digital modelling for next generation manufacturing system design.” CIRP Ann. Manuf. Technol. 66 (1): 169–172.
Starkey, C., and C. Garvin. 2013. “Knowledge from data in the built environment”. Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 1295: 1–9.
Tao, F., J. Cheng, Q. Qi, M. Zhang, et al. 2018. “Digital twin-driven product design, manufacturing and service with big data.” Int. J. Adv. Manuf. Technol. 94 (9–12): 3563–3576.
Tchana, Y., G. Ducellier, and S. Remy. 2019. “Designing a unique digital twin for linear infrastructures lifecycle management.” Procedia CIRP 84: 545–549.
Tuegel, E. J., A. R. Ingraffea, T. G. Eason, and S. M. Spottswood. 2011. “Reengineering aircraft structural life prediction using a digital twin.” Int. J. Aerospace Eng. 2011: 1687–5966. DOI:.
Turner, J., and R. Ferris. 2020. “From BIM to twin!” Accessed August 15, 2021. https://www.brighttalk.com/webcast/18347/447781/from-bim-to-twin.
Vivi, Q. L., A. K. Parlikad, P. Woodall, G. D. Ranasinghe, et al. 2019. “Developing a dynamic digital twin at a building level: Using Cambridge Campus as Case Study.” In Proc., Int. Conf. on Smart Infrastructure and Construction 2019, 67–75. Cambridge, UK: ICE Publishing.
Voulgaropoulos, V., and M. Tohani. 2021. Smart innovators: Digital twins for industrial facilities. London: Verdantix.
Wagg, D. J., K. Worden, R. J. Barthorpe, and P. Gardner. 2020. “Digital twins: State-of-the-art and future directions for modeling and simulation in engineering dynamics applications.” ASCE-ASME J. Risk Uncertainty Eng. Syst. Part B Mech. Eng. 6 (3): 030901.
Willow Inc. 2019. “Unlocking a new era of smart buildings through the digital twin.” Accessed March 15, 2020. https://www.willowinc.com/2019/10/18/unlocking-a-new-era-of-smart-buildings-through-the-digital-twin.
Zheng, X., J. Lu, and D. Kiritsis. 2021. “The emergence of cognitive digital twin: Vision, challenges and opportunities.” Int. J. Prod. Res. 60 (24): 7610–7632.
Zhuang, C., J. Liu, and H. Xiong. 2018. “Digital twin-based smart production management and control framework for the complex product assembly shop-floor.” Int. J. Adv. Manuf. Technol. 96 (1–4): 1149–1163.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Digital Twins in Construction and the Built Environment
Pages: 1 - 36
Editors: Houtan Jebelli, Ph.D., Somayeh Asadi, Ph.D., Ivan Mutis, Ph.D., Rui Liu, Ph.D., and Jack Cheng, Ph.D.
ISBN (Online): 978-0-7844-8560-6
Copyright
© 2024 by the American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Published online: Sep 23, 2024
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.