Common data environment of a BIM-based digital twin for real-time construction pollution management

Purpose This paper develops the CDE of a BIM-based DT for real-time construction pollution management in building renovation projects. The system facilitates efficient construction pollution data management and shares important information among project stakeholders. Design/methodology/approach In this paper, a comprehensive literature review and in-person interviews with nine experts from three main domains, namely, construction management, building information modelling and internet of things (BIM-IoT) integration and digital twin (DT) technology, and environmental management, outlined the development of a database in accordance with the project owner's requirements. The common data environment (CDE) workflow and solution were designed to create a DT, which was applied to an actual building renovation project to demonstrate data collection, integration, visualisation, and analysis. A time-series analysis was performed to evaluate the project's environmental impact. Findings The CDE workflow and solution of the DT platform can improve project stakeholder collaboration, data sharing, and document control. The application of the proposed DT demonstrates how it can be used to monitor the impact of renovation activities on pollution levels in the vicinity of the site. The platform can assist project stakeholders in decision-making on various issues, including the management of evidence-based actions. Pollutant concentrations and other environmental conditions can be visualised in real time within their functional and spatial contexts by integrating time-stamped sensor streams into BIM-based platforms. This features the system's effectiveness in real-time monitoring. In addition, these insights pinpoint potential health risks and highlight the need for more substantial regulatory compliance. Originality/value This research fills knowledge gaps by systematically modelling the flow of static and dynamic information in the CDE of the DT platform. The paper proves that the proposed CDE and BIM-based DT are practical and can be implemented in actual construction projects efficiently.