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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 techniques 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 total administration effectivity.
PRESS RELEASE — Relocatable modular buildings (RMBs) signify a sustainable development methodology the place buildings are assembled and transported simply utilizing prefabricated modules. Nevertheless, challenges in administration and logistics hinder their wider adoption. In a brand new research, researchers developed an modern 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 modern and rising answer for versatile and sustainable development. These buildings may be shortly assembled from prefabricated “modules” and simply transported, minimizing prices and environmental affect whereas offering safer and cleaner development environments. Nevertheless, the administration of belongings and modular items for reuse and relocation throughout a number of lifecycles stays a significant problem in RMB initiatives.
To deal with this, a analysis workforce led by Affiliate Professor Yonghan Ahn from the Faculty 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 initiatives. “Digital twin expertise is a groundbreaking software that provides a digital reproduction of bodily belongings, integrating real-time knowledge, predictive evaluation, and decision-making talents,” explains Prof. Ahn. “Though digital twins are gaining recognition 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 workforce 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 Building in August 01, 2025.
The brand new DT-FMS integrates constructing info modeling (BIM), web of issues (IoT), and geographic info techniques (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 affords strong 3D modelling and complete constructing info. IoT gives real-time sensor knowledge. GIS contributes important geographic knowledge, supporting efficient logistics of modular items and location-based choice making.
This framework is structured throughout three interconnected layers: bodily, digital, and repair. The bodily layer kinds the muse for real-time monitoring and communication amongst completely different bodily elements akin to assets, modular items, and folks, together with stakeholders, engineers, and employees. The digital layer contains modeling instruments, knowledge integration, and analytics. Lastly, the service layer permits customers to observe, management, and work together with the DT framework, supporting efficient choice making all through the constructing lifecycle.
To reveal 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 essential position of digital twins in selling a round economic 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.
