Buildings in the Digital Era : An Explorative Study of Digital Twins in the Built Environment

Abstract: In recent years, digital twins (DT) have gained traction in enhancing operation and maintenance procedures across various industrial sectors, such as manufacturing, energy, and aerospace. Yet their utilization remains more limited in the built environment. The aim of this paper is to investigate the current conceptualizations of DTs within the context of the Swedish built environment, shedding light on the maturity of DTs for built assets and the key value drivers influencing their adoption. The study reveals that DTs for built assets are in early developmental stages, lacking the maturity required to encompass the full spectrum of attributes inherent in a conventional DT. Despite stakeholders labeling these initiatives as DTs, our findings indicate a closer alignment with the concept of BIM-based digital models. This observation resonates with existing literature, highlighting the absence of a universally accepted definition for DTs. Within the Operations and Maintenance (O&M) phase, we have identified the following four primary value drivers shaping the adoption of BIM-based DTs: 1) commercial transparency and trusted transactions, 2) efficiency and cost reduction in routine operations, 3) operational continuity, and 4) added services. These findings contribute to the ongoing discourse surrounding the convergence of BIM and DTs, offering insights into the practical implications and value propositions that drive the integration of these technologies within the built environment.