Barriers to cost estimation performance of digital twin–internet of things implementation in construction

The effects of accurately estimating the cost of construction projects are widespread, as they facilitate the delivery of projects on time and within budget and shape the global economy. Digital Twin and Internet of Things (DT-IoT) systems are widely promoted as tools for enhancing construction cost estimation performance (CEP); however, empirical evidence regarding the major barriers to implementing them and their impact on CEP is limited. This study addressed that gap by developing a survey and administering it to 135 construction professionals to tap into their experience with the barriers to implementing DT-IoT and how, when successfully employed, the systems impact the CEP. The responses were analyzed, and the reliability of the barrier construct was deemed acceptable (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.835). The mean score ranking, Spearman correlation, and Ordinal Logistic Regression (OLR) were used to evaluate the intensity of each barrier, co-occurrence patterns, and associations with CEP levels, and the results showed that resistance to change and technical limitations were the biggest barriers. A correlation analysis indicated strong co-occurrence among barriers, particularly between lack of team spirit and resistance to change, and between lack of a clear roadmap and inadequate interdepartmental communication. The OLR model showed strong explanatory performance (Nagelkerke R² = 0.599) and identified significant effects related to planning, communication, funding, cooperation, and stakeholder alignment, with significant interaction effects indicating compounded barrier conditions. These findings provide empirical evidence on perceived associations between DT-IoT implementation barriers and CEP and offer project managers and professionals an evidence-informed basis for prioritizing implementation strategies that may support more reliable and accurate construction cost estimation practices.