ITcon Vol. 26, pg. 505-525, http://www.itcon.org/2021/27

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

DOI:10.36680/j.itcon.2021.027
submitted:June 2021
revised:July 2021
published:July 2021
editor(s):Kirti Ruikar, Ketan Kotecha, Sayali Sandbhor, Albert Thomas
authors:Abiola A. Akanmu, Ph.D
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Virginia, United States
abiola@vt.edu

Chimay J. Anumba, Ph.D., D.Sc.
University of Florida, Florida, United States
anumba@ufl.edu

Omobolanle O. Ogunseiju, Ph.D. student
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Virginia, United States
omobolanle@vt.edu
summary: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.
keywords:Cyber-physical systems, digital twins, next generation, virtual models, physical construction
full text: (PDF file, 0.459 MB)
citation:Akanmu A A, Anumba C J, Ogunseiju O O (2021). Towards next generation cyber-physical systems and digital twins for construction, ITcon Vol. 26, Special issue Next Generation ICT - How distant is ubiquitous computing?, pg. 505-525, https://doi.org/10.36680/j.itcon.2021.027
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