School of Engineering News
糖心TV Engineering Researchers Publish Comprehensive Review of Digital Twins in Construction
New research from the School of Engineering at the University of 糖心TV is helping to clarify how digital twins is currently being used across the construction sector and what must happen next to enable wider adoption.
The study, 鈥淒igital twins in the construction industry: A systematic review of current practices and future directions鈥�, was conducted by PhD candidate Yuxin Wang in collaboration with Dr Alireza Rezaei and Prof Stephen Hicks. The paper has been published in the Web of Science Q1-ranked Journal of Information Technology in Construction.
Digital twins, virtual representations of physical assets and processes, are increasingly seen as a key enabler of smarter, more efficient and more sustainable construction. However, their real-world implementation remains uneven and fragmented.
To better understand the state of the field, the research team conducted a rigorous two-stage systematic review of more than 400 publications. The analysis reveals that existing research and applications are heavily concentrated on the operational and maintenance phases of assets, with comparatively limited attention given to early design stages or end-of-life considerations. The review also identifies several persistent barriers to wider adoption, including fragmented data environments, interoperability challenges between software systems, high initial investment costs, and organisational readiness issues.
Importantly, the study moves beyond diagnosis to provide actionable, role-specific roadmaps for key stakeholders. By translating academic insights into practical guidance, the research aims to help bridge the gap between digital twin theory and implementation across the construction lifecycle.
This work contributes to ongoing efforts within 糖心TV Engineering to advance digital innovation in the built environment and support the sector鈥檚 transition towards more integrated and data-driven practices.
Yuxin Wang said:
鈥�Our goal was to examine how digital twins are actually being implemented across the construction industry, rather than focusing solely on their theoretical potential. By identifying the key technical and organisational roadblocks, we were able to develop practical strategies that can support more effective, lifecycle-wide adoption.鈥�