Digital Twins for Construction Projects—Developing a Risk Systematization Approach to Facilitate Anomaly Detection in Smart Buildings

Abstract

This study aims to analyze and discuss the risks facing construction projects by reviewing some of the processes and procedures that address risks through the use of the digital twin technology. The paper studies generic risks and their treatment, and it develops a proposal for risk management systematization using the Digital Twin for Construction Projects approach, previously developed by the authors. It addresses how to classify risks so that the digital system is fed with the proper information and data, which is based on processing and analysis, to reach understandable decisions and overcome anomalies. The research reached a set of results, the most prominent of which is that the digital twin can be used to enhance risk management in construction projects through adapted techniques such as the ones proposed in the paper; namely, a risk treatment procedure and a custom risk matrix. In addition, risk management treated according to a digital approach helps to improve the prediction capabilities, and this helps human decision-makers to avoid potential unplanned costs and failures, and to maximize efficiency. The study also recommends new investigations in the field of safeguarding shared information and data to protect from intentional and accidental mismanagement in order to reach a comprehensive digital system.

Keywords

• digital twins for construction projects
• engineering project management
• construction management
• risk management