Lack of digital twin policy as a barrier to sustainability, carbon targets, and sdg achievement

Abstract

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a comprehensive set of targets aimed at improving global conditions, including a focus on reducing carbon footprints. Adopting Digital Twin (DT) technology will aid the achievement of the SDGs. However, there is an inconsistent procurement and policy environment around the development of DTs that can be problematic for those striving to achieve the SDGs. There exists a paucity of research around the interconnections of national policy, DTs, and SDG achievement. This paper addresses this gap by ascertaining how procurement and policy environments impact DT adoption, and in turn how DT adoption can serve to help or hinder SDG achievement. Adopting an interpretivist ontological methodology, this inductive research explores the perceptions of DTs and SDGs as independent concepts (stage one and two), before further interviews are conducted (stage three) which focusses on how DTs and SDGs interact with one another. In total, twenty-five semi-structured interviews with leading professionals are conducted, with narrative analysis utilised as a means of interview structure and analysis. Analysis of the results found there is an inconsistent global policy and procurement environment. In the UK this is hindering DT adoption. Whilst numerous SDG strategies exist, these strategies are often undermined by wider government policy limitations and contractor practices. This original paper calls for an immediate re-think of national policies on DT development, without which, SDG achievement strategies will ultimately be doomed to fail.

Keywords

Collaboration / communication / government policy / innovation / sustainability

References

[1] Moshood TD,Shahzad W.Moshood TD, Rotimi JO, Shahzad W, Bamgbade J. Infrastructure digital twin technology: a new paradigm for future construction industry.Technol Soc2024;77:102519

[2] Hák T,Moldan B.Sustainable development goals: a need for relevant indicators.Ecol Indic2016;60:565-73

[3] United Nation. The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2024. https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/report/2024/The-Sustainable-Development-Goals-Report-2024.pdf (accessed 2025-09-23).

[4] Alaloul WS,Rabbani MBA,Maqsoom A.Construction Sector contribution to economic stability: Malaysian GDP distribution.Sustainability2021;13:5012

[5] Rhodes C. The Construction Industry: Statistics and Policy. https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/sn01432/ (accessed 2025-09-23).

[6] Chih Y.Brace for another crisis: empirical evidence from US Construction industry and firm performance during and after 2007-2009 global financial crisis.J Manage Eng2023;39:04022069

[7] Apata TG.Public spending mechanisms and gross domestic product (GDP) growth in the agricultural sector (1970-2016): lessons for Nigeria from agricultural policy progressions in China.Bull Geogr Sci Ser2019;44:57-72

[8] Mavi N,Fulford R.Forecasting project success in the construction industry using adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system.Int J Constr Manag2023;24:1550-68

[9] Barthorpe S.Implementing corporate social responsibility in the UK construction industry.Prop Manag2010;28:4-17

[10] Cheung S,Wong S.Behavioral aspects in construction partnering.Int J Proj Manag2003;21:333-43

[11] Latham SM. Constructing the team: the Latham report. London: HMSO; 1994. https://constructingexcellence.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Constructing-the-team-The-Latham-Report.pdf (accessed 2025-10-09).

[12] Farmer, M. Modernise or die: the farmer review of the UK construction labour model. London: Construction Leadership Council. https://www.constructionleadershipcouncil.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Farmer-Review.pdf (accessed 2025-09-23).

[13] Watts G.The engagement of the UK construction industry towards achievement of the sustainable development goals.Built Environ Proj Asset Manag2024;14:384-98

[14] Ebiega-Oselebe O,Higham A.Construction project success as a wicked problem: the role of the local community in Ebonyi, Nigeria.Constr Hum Settl Manag J2021;1:49-66https://www.researchgate.net/publication/357407074_Construction_Project_Success_as_a_Wicked_Problem_The_role_of_the_local_community (accessed 2025-09-23).

[15] Ahmed MO,Caldwell A.Comprehensive understanding of factors impacting competitive construction bidding.J Constr Eng Manage2024;150:04024017

[16] Opoku A.Biodiversity and the built environment: implications for the sustainable development goals (SDGs).Resour Conserv Recycl2019;141:1-7

[17] United Nations. United Nation Department of Economic and Social Affairs: sustainable development. The 17 goals. https://sdgs.un.org/goals (accessed 2025-09-23).

[18] Belmonte-ureña LJ,Vazquez-brust D.Circular economy, degrowth and green growth as pathways for research on sustainable development goals: a global analysis and future agenda.Ecological Economics2021;185:107050

[19] GOV·UK. Net zero strategy: build back greener. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/net-zero-strategy (accessed 2025-09-23).

[20] Owusu-manu D,Sackey DM,Hosseini RM.Mainstreaming sustainable development goals in Ghana’s energy sector within the framework of public-private partnerships: challenges, opportunities and strategies.J Eng Des Technol2021;19:605-24

[21] Mio C,Blundo B.Sustainable development goals and the strategic role of business: a systematic literature review.Bus Strat Env2020;29:3220-45

[22] Ferrer-estévez M.Integrating sustainable development goals in educational institutions.Int J Manag Educ2021;19:100494

[23] Vinuesa R,Leite I.The role of artificial intelligence in achieving the sustainable development goals.Nat Commun2020;11:233 PMCID:PMC6957485

[24] Palomares I,Montes R.A panoramic view and swot analysis of artificial intelligence for achieving the sustainable development goals by 2030: progress and prospects.Appl Intell2021;51:6497-527 PMCID:PMC8192224

[25] Tavanti M.Technology innovations for the SDGs. In Developing sustainability in organizations, 1th ed.; Sustainable Development Goals Series (SDGS); Palgrave Macmillan, Cham, 2023; pp. 389-404.

[26] Miao Z,Long T.Carbon footprint in agriculture sector: a literature review.Carbon Footprints2023;2:13

[27] Zhou Y,Zhang X.Lifecycle carbon footprints of buildings and sustainability pathways in China.Carbon Footprints2024;3:9

[28] Dong Q,Geng Y,Chen W.A bibliometric review of carbon footprint research.Carbon Footprints2024;3:3

[29] Grunwald S.Artificial intelligence and soil carbon modeling demystified: power, potentials, and perils.Carbon Footprints2022;1:5

[30] Lekan A,Babatunde O,Christiana A.Disruptive technological innovations in construction field and fourth industrial revolution intervention in the achievement of the sustainable development goal 9.Int J Constr Manag2022;22:2647-58

[31] Mohy AA,Elgendi EO.Innovations in safety management for construction sites: the role of deep learning and computer vision techniques. Constr. Innov. 2024.

[32] Yevu SK,Darko A.Digitalization of construction supply chain and procurement in the built environment: emerging technologies and opportunities for sustainable processes.J Clean Prod2021;322:129093

[33] Antai I,Achtenhagen L.Digital platforms and the construction supply chain: trends and emerging themes in extant AEC research.Constr Manag Econ2025;43:113-29

[34] Wyk L,Opawole A.Adoption of innovative technologies in the South African construction industry.Int J Build Pathol Adapt2024;42:410-29

[35] Li X,Huang Y,He J.Evolutionary mechanism of green innovation behavior in construction enterprises: evidence from the construction industry.Eng Constr Archit Manag2024;31:159-78

[36] TechUK. Unlocking value across the UK’s digital twin ecosystem. https://www.techuk.org/what-we-deliver/events/unlocking-value-across-the-uk-s-digital-twin-ecosystem.html (accessed 2025-09-23).

[37] Ramos HM,Coronado-hernández OE,Pérez-sánchez M.Are digital twins improving urban-water systems efficiency and sustainable development goals?.Urban Water Journal2024;21:1164-75

[38] Hassani H,Macfeely S.Enabling digital twins to support the UN SDGs.Big Data Cogn Comput2022;6:115

[39] Ketzler B,Latino F,Thuvander L.Digital twins for cities: a state of the art review.Built Environ2022;46:547-73https://www.researchgate.net/publication/347920058_Digital_Twins_for_Cities_A_State_of_the_Art_Review (accessed 2025-09-23).

[40] Tzachor A,Richards CE,Acuto M.Potential and limitations of digital twins to achieve the sustainable development goals.Nat Sustain2022;5:822-9

[41] Varriale V,Michelino F.The role of digital technologies in production systems for achieving sustainable development goals.Sustain Prod Consum2024;47:87-104

[42] Saleeb N.Digital twins and Sustainable Development Goals. In Architectural design and management in the digital age: international perspectives. John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, 2024;33-47.

[43] Oti-Sarpong K,Zhang S.A critical examination of BIM policy mandates: implications and responses. In Construction Research Congress 2020. 2020.

[44] Borkowski AS,Zima K.The status of the implementation of the building information modeling mandate in Poland: a literature review.ISPRS Int J Geo-Inf2024;13:343

[45] McAuley B,Hore A. The Irish construction industry’s state of readiness for a BIM mandate in 2020. In Proceedings of the Civil Engineering Research in Ireland 2020 Conference, Cork, August 27-8, 2020, 2020;740-5. https://arrow.tudublin.ie/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1030&context=schmuldistcon (accessed 2025-09-30).

[46] Ganah A.A global analysis of BIM standards across the globe: a critical review.J Proj Manag Pract2021;1:52-60https://jpmm.um.edu.my/index.php/JPMP/article/view/29153/13352 (accessed 2025-09-23).

[47] Watts G,Kolo S.Framing the barriers to construction industry transformation.Built Environ Proj Asset Manag2023;13:185-99

[48] Gillespie D. Reducing embodied carbon in the construction sector. In Proceedings of the 37^th Annual ARCOM Conference, UK, September 6-7, 2021; Scott, L., Neilson, C. J., Eds; Association of Researchers in Construction Management, 2021;744-53. https://www.arcom.ac.uk/-docs/proceedings/b993b0702596b86a7056221aea3d0a64.pdf (accessed 2025-09-30).

[49] Çıdık MS.Value implication of digital transformation: the impact of the commodification of information.Constr Manag Econ2022;40:903-17

[50] Chen L,Chen Z.Biomaterials technology and policies in the building sector: a review.Environ Chem Lett2024;22:715-50

[51] Zhang J,Ballesteros-pérez P,Gong Z.A new framework to evaluate and optimize digital transformation policies in the construction industry: a China case study.J Build Eng2023;70:106388

[52] Walsh P,Horan D.The role of science, technology and innovation in the UN 2030 agenda.Technol Forecast Soc Change2020;154:119957

[53] Patel UR,Ghaffarianhoseini A.Digital twin technology for sustainable urban development: a review of its potential impact on SDG 11 in New Zealand.Cities2024;155:105484

[54] Cresswell JW. Research design: qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches, 6th ed.; London: Sage Publications, 2022.

[55] Clark T,Sloan L. Bryman’s social research methods, 6th ed.; Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2021.

[56] Byrne D. UK sociology and quantitative methods: are we as weak as they think? Or are they barking up the wrong tree?.Sociology2012;46:13-24https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1501754 (accessed 2025-09-23).

[57] Phellas CN,Seale C. Structured methods: interviews, questionnaires and observation. In Researching society and culture, 3rd ed.; London: Sage Publications, 2012; p. 182-205.

[58] Sandelowski M.Telling stories: narrative approaches in qualitative research.Image J Nurs Sch1991;23:161-6

[59] Loosemore M.The social impact of construction industry schools-based corporate volunteering.Constr Manag Econ2018;36:243-58