Construction digital twin: a taxonomy and analysis of the application-technology-data triad

This paper addresses a main gap in the literature: the lack of a comprehensive taxonomy of Digital Twin (DT) applications for the construction phase, and the insufficient conceptualization of the interconnections between DT applications, technologies, and data. Through a systematic review and thematic coding of 112 papers, this paper presents a taxonomy of Digital Twin (DT) applications for construction sites, which includes seven application areas (1. Safety and risk management; 2. Progress monitoring and control; 3. Supply chain and logistics; 4. Quality control and assurance; 5. Data integration and management; 6. Construction robotics and automation; and 7. Sustainability and circular construction”) and 19 uses. The paper then identifies the interplays between each DT application, the five DT technological layers (i.e. sensing; communication; storage; analytics; and visualization), and the data utilized. These findings are crucial for developing DT solutions that effectively tackle the dynamic and complex nature of the construction phase.