Digital Twins as the Next Phase of Cyber-Physical Systems in Construction

The Industry 4.0 wave has driven various industries to be increasingly digital. Under this trend, the construction industry is also seeking out new ways to keep pace with the rapid transformation. As one of the major technologies associated with Industrial 4.0, digital twins (DT)—a subset of cyber-physical systems (CPS)—shows enormous potential to benefit the construction industry. The aim of this paper is to present a comprehensive, up-to-date literature review and critical analysis of existing research into DT applications, with a view to identifying the opportunities for research and applications in the construction domain. Based on the results of the analysis, DT has the potential to gather and analyze information at different scales. In this context, DT would facilitate more efficient construction processes and allows for informed decision to be made, which will ultimately promote a safer environment at reduced costs/improved efficiency.