Short answer

Prioritize the development and implementation of human-centric digital twins to foster collaboration and drive sustainability improvements in construction supply chains.

Field
Sustainability
Source
Smart Construction and Sustainable Cities (2025)
Method
Systematic Review
Evidence
Strong effect

Integrating human-centric digital twins into construction supply chains can significantly improve collaboration, resource efficiency, and environmental performance. This sustainability research insight is drawn from a 2025 study published in Smart Construction and Sustainable Cities. Using Systematic review, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Prioritize the development and implementation of human-centric digital twins to foster collaboration and drive sustainability improvements in construction supply chains.

Study
SustainabilityNew This WeekStrong effect

Human-Centric Digital Twins Drive Sustainable Construction Supply Chains

Integrating human-centric digital twins into construction supply chains can significantly improve collaboration, resource efficiency, and environmental performance.

Smart Construction and Sustainable Cities · 2025

01

Key Findings

  • 01Human-centric digital twins facilitate real-time communication and shared information among stakeholders.
  • 02Digital twins enable collaborative decision-making by providing a comprehensive view of the supply chain.
  • 03The technology aids in bottleneck detection, scenario simulation, and behavioral analysis by incorporating human factors.
  • 04Challenges include data interoperability, cybersecurity, and workforce readiness.
02

Application

Design takeaway

Prioritize the development and implementation of human-centric digital twins to foster collaboration and drive sustainability improvements in construction supply chains.

How to apply

When designing or managing construction projects, explore the use of digital twin platforms that prioritize user interface, data accessibility, and collaborative features to improve supply chain performance and sustainability outcomes.

Project actions

  • 01Consider how digital tools can improve communication and collaboration in your design project.
  • 02Investigate how data from different sources can be integrated to provide a holistic view of a system.
03

Method & Evidence

AimHow can human-centric digital twins enhance collaboration and promote sustainability within construction supply chains?
MethodSystematic Review
ProcedureThe research involved a systematic review of Scopus-indexed publications, industry reports, and conference proceedings to identify key collaboration factors, evaluate digital twin capabilities, and measure their impact on sustainability within construction supply chains.
ContextConstruction Industry Supply Chains

Variables

IV["Implementation of human-centric digital twins"]
DV["Collaboration levels","Resource efficiency","Environmental impact"]
CV["Complexity of the construction supply chain","Existing collaboration methods"]
04

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

  • +Comprehensive review of existing literature and industry reports.
  • +Focus on the 'human-centric' aspect, which is often overlooked in technological implementations.

Limitations

The effectiveness of digital twins can be limited by the quality and accessibility of data, as well as the willingness of stakeholders to adopt new technologies.

Reliability & validity

The systematic review methodology aims to ensure reliability by using a structured approach to literature search and selection. Validity is addressed by synthesizing findings from multiple sources, but the reliance on published data may introduce publication bias.

Think critically

To what extent can the challenges of data interoperability and workforce readiness be overcome to fully realize the benefits of human-centric digital twins in construction?

05

Design Principles

"Leverage digital twin technology with a focus on human interaction and collaboration to optimize complex systems for sustainability."

The construction industry faces substantial challenges in achieving sustainability due to complex stakeholder networks and resource inefficiencies. Human-centric digital twins offer a novel approach to address these issues by fostering better communication, enabling data-driven decision-making, and allowing for proactive identification and mitigation of supply chain bottlenecks.

06

What This Means for Your Design

Using digital models of the construction supply chain that focus on people can help everyone work together better, reduce waste, and be more environmentally friendly.

How to use in your project

  • 1.Reference this study when discussing the use of digital technologies for improving sustainability and collaboration in your design project.
07

Add to My Project

08

Quick Cite

Paragraph starter

The integration of human-centric digital twins presents a significant opportunity to enhance collaboration and drive sustainability within construction supply chains. By providing a unified platform for real-time communication, shared information, and collaborative decision-making, these digital tools can lead to improved resource efficiency and reduced environmental impact, as supported by research in this area.

09

Source

Smart Construction and Sustainable Cities

Human centric digital twins for sustainable supply chain in construction

journal · 2025

View source

Questions About This Research

What does the research say about human-centric digital twins drive sustainable construction supply chains?
Prioritize the development and implementation of human-centric digital twins to foster collaboration and drive sustainability improvements in construction supply chains. Evidence: Smart Construction and Sustainable Cities (2025).
Why does "Human-Centric Digital Twins Drive Sustainable Construction Supply Chains" matter for design?
The construction industry faces substantial challenges in achieving sustainability due to complex stakeholder networks and resource inefficiencies. Human-centric digital twins offer a novel approach to address these issues by fostering better communication, enabling data-driven decision-making, and allowing for proactive identification and mitigation of supply chain bottlenecks.
How can designers apply this research?
Prioritize the development and implementation of human-centric digital twins to foster collaboration and drive sustainability improvements in construction supply chains.
What were the main findings?
Human-centric digital twins facilitate real-time communication and shared information among stakeholders.. Digital twins enable collaborative decision-making by providing a comprehensive view of the supply chain.. The technology aids in bottleneck detection, scenario simulation, and behavioral analysis by incorporating human factors.. Challenges include data interoperability, cybersecurity, and workforce readiness.
What research method was used?
Systematic Review.
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2025 journal from Smart Construction and Sustainable Cities.
What should I do differently in my next project?
When designing or managing construction projects, explore the use of digital twin platforms that prioritize user interface, data accessibility, and collaborative features to improve supply chain performance and sustainability outcomes.
What are the limitations?
The study acknowledges challenges related to data interoperability, cybersecurity, and workforce readiness, which may hinder widespread adoption.