Towards next generation cyber-physical systems and digital twins for construction

Abstract

The construction industry continues to seek innovative ways to safely, timely and cost-effectively deliver construction projects. Several efforts have been made to automate construction processes but marginial success has been achieved in effectively reducing the long standing risks suffered by the industry. While industry 4.0 promises to improve project efficiency, reduce waste and improve productivity, the transition to this will depend on the successful adoption of many emerging technologies such as virtual design modeling technologies, sensing technologies, data analysis, storage and communication technologies, human-computer interaction technologies, and robotics. To accelerate innovation, digital twins and cyber-physical systems will be a necessity to advance automation and real-time control with these technologies. While digital twin represents a digital replica of the asplanned and as-built facility, cyber physical systems involve integration of physical systems with their digital replica through sensors and actuators. Despite evidence of the efficacy of cyber-physical systems and digital twins for reducing non-fatal injuries, enhancing safety management, improving progress monitoring and enhancing performance monitoring and control of facilities, their adoption in the construction industry is still in its infancy. This paper sheds light on the opportunities offered by cyber-physical systems and digital twins in other industry sectors and advocates for their increased deployment in the construction industry. This paper describes cyber-physical integration of emerging technologies with the physical construction or constructed facility as the next generation digital twin and cyber-physical systems. Potential scenarios of next generation cyber physical system and digital twin for improving workforce productivity, health, and safety, lifecycle management of building systems, and workforce competency are presented.

Digital Twin-Driven Performance Optimization for Hazardous Waste Landfill Systems

“…e Greek scholar Christopoulos' research results show that the post-evaluation of environmental impacts can compare the results of environmental impact prediction with the actual evaluation results to verify the previous environmental impact predictions, gradually improve the level of environmental evaluation, and propose qualitative analysis and quantitative analysis [10]. e technical method of the analysis and combination was finally verified with the example of the Russian coal mine in the United States [11].…”

Digitaler Zwilling für die automatisierte Produktion von Betonfertigteilen

“…Eine wesentliche Erkenntnis ist die dynamische Anreicherung und Möglichkeit der Kommunikation von Digitalen Zwillingen untereinander. Akanmu et al [6] untersuchen die Verwendung Digitaler Zwillinge in cyber‐physischen Systemen und stellen Anwendungsfälle für die Verbesserung von Produktivität, Gesundheit und Sicherheit vor. Sie skizzieren wesentliche Technologien und Hindernisse für die Implementierung.…”

A Comprehensive Data Schema for Digital Twin Construction

“…This is indispensable for construction performance evaluation and assessment of the execution of construction processes. Currently, there is no standard data model established in the context of digital twins in construction (Akanmu, Anumba and Ogunseiju, 2021). Existing product and process model data schemata (buildingSMART International, 2021;Rasmussen et al, 2020;Bonduel, 2021;Zheng, Törmä and Seppänen, 2021) lack completeness with respect to the requirements of a digital twin of the construction phase.…”