ANALYSIS OF THE INTEGRATION BETWEEN DIGITAL TWINS AND LEAN CONSTRUCTION FOR CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS

In recent years, academics and stakeholders in the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry have developed strategies to address the issue of low productivity, resulting in the emergence of two distinct approaches: the 'managerial' and the 'technological'. Recently, researchers have advocated the integration of these approaches, in particular by exploring the potential for an integrated implementation of the Digital Twin (DT) concept and Lean Construction (LC) theory. In order to contribute to the theoretical foundation of this integration, this study investigates the theoretical feasibility of an integration between DT and LC in the context of construction projects by adopting a mixed methods research approach, combining literature review with a hybrid analytical approach. The following general research question is addressed: "Is a synergy between the DT concept and the LC theory feasible and beneficial in the context of construction projects? If ‘yes’, in what contexts and how?” As a novelty, this study explores possible interactions between the principles, functionalities, potentials, barriers and challenges of both DT and LC in order to theorize the positive and negative aspects of this integration in the context of construction projects. Preliminary results show that some of the barriers that prevent the full use of LC in the execution of construction projects can be overcome if its implementation is supported by a technological application based on the concept of DT. In turn, a DT application can add value to the process and the final product, thus addressing some of the challenges to its wider adoption in the construction phase of AEC projects.