Integrating Digital Twins into the Metaverse for Dynamic and Computer-Human Interactive Building Information Modelling

Abstract

Digital Twins and the Metaverse are upcoming technologies that are each associated with several promising potential applications within many industries, one of which is the construction industry; more specifically, these technologies have significant potential applications to improve built environments consisting of Building Information Monitoring (BIM) systems. This paper analyses the integration of Digital Twins and the Metaverse into such built environments by highlighting their dynamic gathering, evaluation, and contribution of human-centric behavioural information to Building Information Modelling systems. Information of this type can impact critical decisions in the implementation strategy and management of any type of project within a built environment. The paper presents such a technology integration, and its system architecture indicates expected performance metrics and emphasizes the need for dynamic computer-human interactive data collection, evaluation and transmission into a BIM system. It also highlights the alignment of such a human-centric BIM approach with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals that impact the built environment. Furthermore, we delineate the pre and post-conditions of applying this integrated technology, discuss presently-existing research limitations, and outline areas of further research.

Keywords: Building Information Modeling, Computer-Human Interaction, Digital Twins, Metaverse, Virtual Reality

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe1005270