An enabling framework towards digital twins implementation model for sustainable smart facility management

Purpose
Digital twins (DT) technology shows great promise in transforming smart facility management (FM) towards sustainability in the built environment. However, having a clear understanding of the underlying enablers towards the implementation is imperative, and prior studies have paid little attention. To address the gap, this study investigates the critical enablers of effective DT implementation and their systemic relationship to achieve sustainable smart FM applications in the built environment.

Design/methodology/approach
An embedded mixed-method design, involving a literature review, an expert quantitative and qualitative survey, was pragmatically adopted. The design is further integrated with partial least squares structural equation modelling and inductive-thematic analysis.

Findings
A relatively high awareness level of DT, with a fair agreement level of its implementation for sustainable smart FM, was revealed. However, six categories of critical enablers were revealed to form an enabling framework (R2 = 92.70%, p > 0.05), considering their systemic interrelationships. This included “data sensing and processing-related technologies”, “network-related technologies”, “communication-related technologies”, “knowledge building”, “design process” and “development technologies”. The enabling framework explained 86.90% (p = 0.019) of the variance to develop an effective DT implementation model to achieve sustainability in smart FM.

Practical implications
The study develops a DT implementation model, recommending the critical enablers and their categories to FM professionals and firms, and if considered in decision-making and policymaking, could help effectively implement DT to achieve sustainability.

Originality/value
The study makes a unique contribution by developing a theoretically grounded enabling framework, explicitly underpinned by systems theory, to operationalise DT for sustainable smart FM. This framework advances existing knowledge by providing an implementation model through which FM organisations can systematically leverage DT for enhanced decision-making on improving sustainability outcomes and operational effectiveness in the built environment.