Digital Twin Research in the AECO-FM Industry

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to examine and discuss the current patterns, gaps and trends in Digital Twin research in the architectural, engineering, construction, operation, and facility management (AECO-FM) industry and to propose future directions for industry stakeholders. A bibliometric search was performed on 197 papers that were obtained from the Scopus database. 151 of those papers were used in the subsequent scientometric analysis and mapping to narrate the evolution of the research subject. The studies discussed in the paper cover a wide range of research from model-based information management to building information management, all the way to the interaction between buildings and smart cities. The ‘virtual-physical building integration’, ‘building lifecycle management’, and ‘information integrated production’ subjects are highly in the focus of the research field. While ‘information-based predictive management’ and ‘virtual-based information utilization’ studies need to be addressed for a holistic Digital Twin adoption in the AECO-FM industry. Future studies should focus on the full integration of digital twin and its physical counterpart for better performance throughout the building life cycle. This study highlights the patterns, gaps and trends in Digital Twin research in the AECO-FM industry and contributes to the state-of-the-art digitalization and automation approaches in the construction project management body of knowledge. The sample size is a limitation for this research since it is relatively small due to the newness of the subject. Future studies may include data related to practice-oriented innovations and industry-initiated improvements to achieve broader and more informed results.