Human centric digital twins for sustainable supply chain in construction

Abstract

The construction sector faces increasing pressure to integrate sustainable supply chain practices, yet traditional collaboration methods often fall short in addressing stakeholder complexity, resource inefficiencies, and environmental impacts. This study explores how human-centric digital twins can enhance collaboration and promote sustainability throughout construction supply chains. Through a systematic review of Scopus-indexed publications, industry reports, and conference proceedings, the research identifies key factors for collaboration, evaluates the capabilities of digital twins, and measures their impact on sustainability. Results show that human-centric digital twins enable real-time communication, shared information, and collaborative decision-making. The comprehensive view of the supply chain is provided, allowing for bottleneck detection, scenario simulation, and behavioral analysis by incorporating human factors. Challenges such as data interoperability, cybersecurity, and workforce readiness remain. The study suggests a phased implementation approach focused on stakeholder engagement, data standardization, and user-centered design. Ongoing monitoring and evaluation are vital for achieving long-term sustainability goals. By addressing implementation barriers, construction firms can unlock the full benefits of human-centric digital twins, turning supply chain collaboration into a driver of resilience, efficiency, and environmental stewardship.

Keywords

Digital twin / Construction supply chain / Sustainability / Stakeholder collaboration / Human-centric

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