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A systematic taxonomic review of the application of BIM and digital twins technologies in the construction industry

Rashidi, Amirreza; Sarvari, Hadi; Chan, Daniel W.M.; Olawumi, Timothy O.; Edwards, David J.

Authors

Amirreza Rashidi

Hadi Sarvari

Daniel W.M. Chan

David J. Edwards



Abstract

Purpose
This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the transition from Building Information Modelling (BIM) to digital twins (DT) in the construction industry. Specifically, the research explores the current state (themes and trends) and future directions of this emerging research domain.

Design/methodology/approach
A multi-stage approach was employed that combines scientometric and systematic review approaches. The scientometric analysis involves quantitative assessment of scientific publications retrieved from the Web of Science database – using software tools like VOSviewer and HistCite. The systematic review involved a rigorous synthesis and evaluation of the existing literature to identify research gaps, themes, clusters and future directions. Clusters obtained from the scientometric analysis of the co-occurrence network were then used as a subject base for a systematic study.

Findings
Emergent findings reveal a rapidly growing interest in BIM-DT integration, with over 90% of publications since 2020. The United Kingdom, China and Italy are the leading contributing countries. Five prominent research clusters identified are: (1) Construction 4.0 technologies; (2) smart cities and urban environments; (3) heritage BIM and laser scanning; (4) asset and facility management; and (5) energy and sustainability. The study highlights the potential of BIM-DT integration for enhancing project delivery, asset management and sustainability practices in the built environment. Moreover, the project’s life cycle operation phase has garnered the most attention from researchers in this field compared to other phases.

Originality/value
This unique study is comprehensive in its approach by combining scientometric and systematic methods to provide a quantitative and qualitative evaluation of the BIM-DT research landscape. Unlike previous reviews that focused solely on facility management, this study’s scope covers the entire construction sector. By identifying research gaps, challenges and future directions, this study establishes a solid foundation for researchers exploring this emerging field and envisions the future landscape of BIM-DT integration in the built environment.

Citation

Rashidi, A., Sarvari, H., Chan, D. W., Olawumi, T. O., & Edwards, D. J. (online). A systematic taxonomic review of the application of BIM and digital twins technologies in the construction industry. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, https://doi.org/10.1108/ecam-02-2024-0239

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Aug 7, 2024
Online Publication Date Aug 23, 2024
Deposit Date Sep 3, 2024
Publicly Available Date Sep 4, 2024
Journal Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management
Print ISSN 0969-9988
Electronic ISSN 1365-232X
Publisher Emerald
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
DOI https://doi.org/10.1108/ecam-02-2024-0239
Keywords Building Information Modelling (BIM); Construction industry; Digital Twins (DT); Systematic review; Scientometric

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A Systematic Taxonomic Review of the Application of BIM and Digital Twins Technologies in the Construction Industry (accepted version) (1.3 Mb)
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