Reframing Digital Twins in Construction: A Socio-Technical Lifecycle Perspective

Abstract: This paper proposes a socio-technical approach for the development and implementation of Construction Digital Twins (CDTs), extending beyond the dominant technocentric perspective. Grounded in insights from an industrial case study, this paper conceptualises CDTs as socio-technical systems, emphasising the interplay among people, process and technology across six proposed lifecycle stages of CDTs: Define, Design, Implement, Assess, Refine and Decommission. The paper also examines human-CDT interactions during the implementation phase, highlighting their mutual influence and the unique requirements posed by the dynamic, socially complex and unpredictable nature of construction projects.