Digital Twin for Supply Chain Coordination in Modular Construction

Abstract

Over the past decades, the construction industry has been attracted to modular construction because of its benefits for reduced project scheduling and costs. However, schedule deviation risks in the logistics process of modular construction can derail its benefits and thus interfere with its widespread application. To address this issue, we aim to develop a digital twin framework for real-time logistics simulation, which can predict potential logistics risks and accurate module arrival time. The digital twin, a virtual replica of the physical module, updates its virtual asset based on building information modeling (BIM) in near real-time using internet of thing (IoT) sensors. Then, the virtual asset is transferred and exploited for logistics simulation in a geographic information system (GIS)-based routing application. We tested this framework in a case project where modules are manufactured at a factory, delivered to the site via a truck, and assembled onsite. The results show that potential logistical risks and accurate module arrival time can be detected via the suggested digital twin framework. This paper’s primary contribution is the development of a framework that mediates IoT, BIM, and GIS for reliable simulation which predicts potential logistics risks and accurate module delivery time. Such reliable risk prediction enables effective supply chain coordination, which can improve project performance and the widespread application of modular construction.

The Use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles for Dynamic Site Layout Planning in Large-Scale Construction Projects

“…Research using radio-frequency identification (RFID) and GPS brought interesting contributions to this area of knowledge [65]. However, in recent years, the use of BIM models associated with GIS witnessed a drastic increase in interest amongst scholars in the field, especially in the construction sector [66][67][68][69]. According to [70], the use of GIS allows the storage of location data referring to a region or facility that can be integrated with satellite images and digital elevation models (DEM), therefore enabling the analysis of the project's evolution over time [71,72].…”

“…Research using radio-frequency identification (RFID) and GPS brought interesting contributions to this area of knowledge [65]. However, in recent years, the use of BIM models associated with GIS witnessed a drastic increase in interest amongst scholars in the field, especially in the construction sector [66][67][68][69].…”

“…Lee and Lee [67] used BIM, GIS and Internet of Things (IoT) to develop a digital twin model for real-time logistics simulation in the construction industry. Pepe et al [75] proposed the creation of a 3D GIS model of a cultural heritage site combining BIM, GIS, and terrestrial laser scanner.…”

Supply Chain Resilience Roadmaps for Major Disruptions

“…Similarly, a digital twin framework for real-time logistics simulation has been developed for SC coordination in modular construction. It can predict potential logistics risks and accurate arrival times [86].…”

A Parametric Scan-to-FEM Framework for the Digital Twin Generation of Historic Masonry Structures

“…Given the framework above, the concept of Digital Twin (DT), originally defined as "A model of the physical object or system, which connects digital and physical assets, transmits data in at least one direction, and monitors the physical system in real-time" [4], has gradually attracted the attention of the building sector. As a result, the DT concept is becoming popular as a comprehensive approach to manage, plan, predict, and demonstrate building infrastructure or city assets [5][6][7]. Concerning the historic masonry structures, an early attempt involving the development of a comprehensive methodology to structure and integrate the significance of tangible and intangible elements into HBIM models was proposed by Angjeliu et al (2020) [8].…”