Unraveling barriers to digital twin adoption under Construction 4.0: A DEMATEL-ISM-MICMAC approach

Digital twin (DT) technology is revolutionizing the architecture, engineering, construction, and operation (AECO) industry, driven by the advancements of Construction 4.0 (C4.0). Despite this, adopting DT in the AECO sector remains limited due to various barriers. This study, driven by four research questions (RQ), aims to advance DT adoption in the AECO industry under C4.0 using an integrated approach. The degrees of influence and importance ranking of barriers are assessed through the decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL). The hierarchy and causal relationships among barriers are revealed through interpretative structural modeling (ISM). Then, barriers are divided into four clusters employing the cross-impact matrix multiplication applied to classification (MICMAC) method. The paper reveals that "lack of government financial and policy support" is the most critical barrier, "lack of trust and long-term perspective in DT" is the most significant direct-influence barrier, and "immature 3D engine technology" is the most fundamental barrier. By exploring interrelationships and prioritizing barriers, the study provides insights to enhance adopting DT in the AECO industry in the context of C4.0.