URGENT UPDATE: Researchers from Western Michigan University have just released a groundbreaking study on the transformative potential of Digital Twin technology in facility management. The research, titled “Digital Twin-Enabled Smart Facility Management: A Bibliometric Review“, reveals critical insights into how digital twins can revolutionize operations and maintenance (O&M) within the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industries.
As facility management faces skyrocketing costs and inefficiencies, this study highlights an urgent need for advanced solutions. The researchers, including Obaidullah HAKIMI, Hexu LIU, and Osama ABUDAYYEH, conducted a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of 248 research articles sourced from the Scopus and Web of Science databases, covering the period from January 2012 to March 2022. Their findings indicate that digital twin technology significantly enhances decision-making through real-time data acquisition and analysis.
This research is particularly timely as facility management increasingly turns to innovative digital technologies to tackle longstanding challenges. Key areas of focus identified in the study include building information modeling (BIM), AI-driven predictive maintenance, and the integration of cyber-physical systems. The results also pinpoint seven crucial research clusters, such as digital facility management and intelligent prognostics, that are reshaping the industry landscape.
The study underscores a notable trend: while the UK, led by the University of Cambridge, emerges as a leader in citation impact, the publication Automation in Construction stands out as a prominent source for influential studies. However, the analysis reveals a gap in practical applications, suggesting that the majority of impactful studies remain theoretical.
With the facility management sector under pressure to innovate, the researchers emphasize the necessity for further exploration in areas like AI-based real-time asset prognostics and deep learning for continuous improvement. These advancements are vital for enhancing operational efficiency and ensuring sustainability in facility management.
The paper, which is now available as open access, can be found at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42524-023-0254-4.
As the industry grapples with evolving demands, these findings offer a clear call to action for stakeholders to embrace digital twin technology, ensuring that facility management not only keeps pace but leads in innovation. This pivotal research is poised to influence future directions in the field, making it essential reading for professionals and academics alike.
Stay tuned as we follow this developing story, highlighting the implications of these findings for facility management worldwide.
