Researchers Develop Digital Twin Framework to Enhance Sustainability and Efficiency of Modular Buildings

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Researchers developed a digital twin-based facility administration system (DT-FMS) to enhance lifecycle administration of relocatable modular buildings (RMBs).

The framework integrates constructing info modeling, web of issues, and geographic info programs for real-time monitoring, efficiency evaluation, and logistics simulations.

A case research on a modular faculty system in South Korea confirmed the system improved module distribution, reuse, and general administration effectivity.

PRESS RELEASE — Relocatable modular buildings (RMBs) signify a sustainable development methodology the place buildings are assembled and transported simply utilizing prefabricated modules. Nonetheless, challenges in administration and logistics hinder their wider adoption. In a brand new research, researchers developed an revolutionary digital twin facility administration system tailor-made particularly for RMBs. This superior framework integrates cutting-edge applied sciences to reinforce administration effectivity all through the constructing lifecycle, establishing a basis for wider digital twin integration in development.

Relocatable modular buildings (RMBs) signify an revolutionary and rising answer for versatile and sustainable development. These buildings might be shortly assembled from prefabricated “modules” and simply transported, minimizing prices and environmental influence whereas offering safer and cleaner development environments. Nonetheless, the administration of property and modular items for reuse and relocation throughout a number of lifecycles stays a serious problem in RMB tasks.

To deal with this, a analysis staff led by Affiliate Professor Yonghan Ahn from the College of Structure & Architectural Engineering at Hanyang College ERICA in South Korea, developed a brand new digital twin (DT)-based framework for facility administration of RMB tasks. “Digital twin expertise is a groundbreaking instrument that provides a digital duplicate of bodily property, integrating real-time knowledge, predictive evaluation, and decision-making talents,” explains Prof. Ahn. “Though digital twins are gaining reputation in different fields, their use in modular development stays restricted. We introduce a novel digital twin-enabled facility administration system (DT-FMS) tailor-made particularly for RMBs.” The staff additionally included contributions from Dr. Dennis Nguyen from Hanyang College. Their research was made out there on-line on Might 05, 2025, and printed in Quantity 176 of the journal Automation in Development in August 01, 2025.

The brand new DT-FMS integrates constructing info modeling (BIM), web of issues (IoT), and geographic info programs (GIS) to create an in depth digital mannequin of RMBs. This mannequin helps real-time monitoring, efficiency evaluation, and logistics simulations throughout the constructing’s lifecycle. BIM provides sturdy 3D modelling and complete constructing info. IoT supplies real-time sensor knowledge. GIS contributes essential geographic knowledge, supporting efficient logistics of modular items and location-based determination making.

This framework is structured throughout three interconnected layers: bodily, digital, and repair. The bodily layer varieties the inspiration for real-time monitoring and communication amongst totally different bodily elements similar to assets, modular items, and folks, together with stakeholders, engineers, and staff. The digital layer contains modeling instruments, knowledge integration, and analytics. Lastly, the service layer permits customers to watch, management, and work together with the DT framework, supporting efficient determination making all through the constructing lifecycle.

To display the sensible utility of the framework, the researchers performed a case research on a relocatable modular faculty system in South Korea. DT-FMS enhanced the choice making for module distribution and reuse, leading to improved administration effectivity.

“Our analysis highlights the vital function of digital twins in selling a round financial system by enabling the reuse, reconfiguration, and optimum relocation of modular items, thereby minimizing waste and maximizing worth all through repeating undertaking cycles,” remarks Dr. Nguyen.