How the Convergence of Information Technology and Operational Technology Enables Digital Twin in Construction Industry: A Systematic Review

Digital Twin (DT) has emerged as a promising solution for improving processes and decision making in the construction industry. However, developing DTs faces challenges due to the fragmented use of Information Technology (IT) and Operational Technology (OT) systems, and yet a comprehensive study covering these domains is lacking. In response, this paper systematically reviews 20 papers published over the past five years investigating IT and OT systems with two lenses: construction perspective and DT perspective. Through a synthesis of the existing literature, the main challenges and solutions for enabling IT and OT convergence in construction projects are identified and prioritized based on frequency of occurrence in the literature. Next, a discussion explaining how such convergence and integration enables the development of DTs through synchronizing information flows between physical assets and virtual representations is offered. The identified challenges are categorized into four groups including technology, data, organization, and people. The proposed solutions are focused in three common areas of technology, data, and organization. This study concludes that while there are rapidly growing interests around leveraging DT concepts in the construction industry, overcoming the barriers for IT and OT convergence should be a main priority for construction stakeholders looking to enable DTs and realize their benefits. The identified challenges and solutions provide an industry-specific roadmap for digital integration as well as important implications for digital transformation in the construction industry.