A framework for addressing barriers to digital twin adoption in the construction sector of developing countries
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Abstract
Despite the global advancement of digital technologies aimed at improving productivity and performance, several limiting factors hinder the adoption of digital technologies among construction professionals, especially digital twin technologies. This research investigates the barriers to the use of the digital twin (DT) among construction professionals. A survey approach was adopted, and questionnaires were distributed using random sampling techniques to digitally inclined professionals. The response rate for the data retrieved was 50.9%; descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data collected. It was found that lack of government support, lack of expertise, cost of implementation, unavailability of technological operators, and lack of standardized tools were the top-ranked barriers to using DT in a developing context. Factor analysis was conducted to group the barriers into five components: programming and simulation, mindset, policy and structure, economic, and knowledge barriers. The Kruskal–Wallis test revealed that the cost of implementation significantly differed among the professionals, while other factors did not differ significantly among the respondents. Dunnett's and least significant difference (LSD) post-hoc tests revealed significant differences between architects and builders, builders and quantity surveyors, architects and engineers, and engineers and quantity surveyors. It was therefore concluded that government support and the availability of technological experts are critical in helping professionals embrace cutting-edge technology such as DT. It was recommended that the government and other stakeholders make efforts to improve awareness and technical capacity through training, workshops, and seminars. It was also recommended that user-friendly DT solutions be developed to facilitate broader implementation across construction firms and organizations.
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