A Digital Twin Model for Advancing Construction Safety

Jochen Teizer*, Karsten W. Johansen, Carl L. Schultz, Kilian Speiser, Olga Golovina

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingBook chapterResearchpeer-review

Abstract

Information-driven management and control of physical systems have emerged over the past decade in multiple industrial sectors and more recently also in construction. Such models are called "Digital twins". However, in the domain of construction, and in particular in its specialty discipline safety, a digital twin (DT) remains rather undefined. Little or no consensus exists among researchers and practitioners of two essential aspects: (a) the connection between the physical reality of a construction site (the "physical" twin) and the corresponding computer model (the "digital" twin) and (b) the most effective selection and exploitation of real-life data for supporting safe design, planning, and execution of construction. This paper outlines the concept for a Digital Twin for Construction Safety (DTCS), defining four essential steps in the DT workflow: (1) safe design and planning for hazard prevention, (2) conformance checking for ensuring compliance, (3) risk monitoring and control for proactive prediction and alerting, and (4) continu­ous performance improvement for personalized- or project-based learning. DTCS should be viewed as a system-based approach enhancing the overall safety perfor­mance rather than exclusively integrating sensing information or safety knowledge in Building Information Modeling (BIM) for safety purposes. The result is an out­line of our vision of the DTCS and a description of its modules in essential safety applications. Additionally, we point towards future research and development on this topic.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationConstruction Logistics, Equipment, and Robotics : Proceedings of the CLEaR Conference 2023
EditorsJohannes Fottner, Dominik Matt, Konrad Nübel
Place of PublicationCham
PublisherSpringer
Publication date2024
Pages201-212
ISBN (Print)978-3-031-44020-5
ISBN (Electronic)978-3-031-44021-2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2024
EventCLEaR 2023 - Construction Logistics, Equipment, and Robotics - TUM Academy Center Raitenhaslach, Raitenhaslach, Germany
Duration: 9 Oct 202311 Oct 2023

Conference

ConferenceCLEaR 2023 - Construction Logistics, Equipment, and Robotics
LocationTUM Academy Center Raitenhaslach
Country/TerritoryGermany
CityRaitenhaslach
Period09/10/202311/10/2023
SeriesLecture Notes in Civil Engineering
Volume390
ISSN2366-2557

Keywords

  • Construction Safety
  • Digital Twin
  • Building Information Modeling
  • Site Layout Planning
  • Monitoring
  • Education
  • Training
  • Equipment
  • Workforce

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