Technological Drivers and Barriers for Digital Twin Adoption in the Malaysian Construction Industry

Abstract

Digital twin (DT) technology can potentially boost project performance and decision-making across various industries, including construction. However, the Malaysian construction sector encounters various barriers to its implementation. This paper aims to explore the barriers and drivers associated with the adoption of digital twin technology in Malaysia’s construction industry. Specifically, it aims to identify obstacles to adoption and propose technological drivers that could facilitate its integration into construction practices. A total of 23 journal articles were meticulously reviewed using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. In addition, data from 97 responses collected from G7 construction professionals were analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The study uncovers various barriers hindering the adoption of digital twin technology in the Malaysian construction industry. These barriers include financial uncertainties, technological complexity, lack of standardisation, cyber security concerns and issues related to intellectual property rights. Furthermore, barriers arise from the novelty of the technology, the diversity of source systems, and interoperability issues. Moreover, the study categorizes the identified drivers into distinct categories and sub-themes, focusing on principles, production, operational performance and preservation. The findings indicate that overcoming these barriers and utilising the identified factors could accelerate the implementation of digital twin technology in the Malaysian construction industry. This study adds to the existing knowledge base and provides insights to encourage the spread of digital twin technology in Malaysia.