Barriers in The Integration of Digital Twins (DTs) And Building Information Modelling (BIM) For Predictive Maintenance in Facility Management

Abstract

The construction sector is progressively employing sophisticated technologies to optimize operational efficiency and the durability of constructed environments.  Digital Twins (DTs) generate exact digital duplicates of tangible objects, whereas Building Information Modelling (BIM) offers encompassing digital depictions of a building's physical and functional attributes.  Integrating these technologies enables a proactive approach to maintenance and management through the constant monitoring, data analysis, and predictive insights they allow.  This study examines the obstacles to using BIM and DTs to help predictive maintenance in facility management.  A qualitative method utilizing focus group discussions was conducted to examine the use of DTs and BIM in this field.  Using purposive sampling, 12 industry practitioners with experience utilizing and applying BIM and digital twins were chosen.  The results have identified the problems and obstacles in integrating BIM and digital twins, offering industry practitioners insightful information and opening the door for more developments in construction technology.