Establishing the Rationale for a Digital Twin Framework in the Built Environment

Digital Twins (DT) have the potential to transform the Architecture, Engineering, Construction, and Operation (AECO) industry by improving project efficiency, decision-making, and long-term asset management, yet their adoption remains fragmented due to the absence of a structured framework aligned with industry-standard workflows.Existing methodologies, such as the RIBA Plan of Work and associated Overlays, provide guidance for project delivery but do not explicitly integrate DT considerations.The role of Collaborative Procurement (CP) in enabling DT uptake remains underexplored despite its recognised contributions to improving project outcomes.This paper establishes the rationale for a dedicated DT framework tailored to the built environment by synthesising cross-industry insights, evaluating current methodologies, and identifying key characteristics that support earlystage DT integration, data continuity, and long-term stakeholder collaboration.A proactive approach, anchored in CP principles, ensures DT adoption is embedded from project inception, preventing fragmented implementation and unlocking its full potential.As climate resilience and net-zero targets become fundamental industry drivers, a structured DT framework ensures that digital innovation actively contributes to improved energy performance, lifecycle efficiency, and broader sustainability goals.This paper reinforces the need for a scalable and adaptable framework that supports coherent DT adoption and enhances efficiency, resilience, and sustainability across the AECO sector.Impact statement: Digital Twins (DT) are often treated as isolated digital tools, but their wider impact lies in enabling improved governance of assets across their lifecycle.This paper presents the rationale for a structured DT framework tailored to Architecture, Engineering, Construction, and Operation (AECO) projects.The approach centres on embedding DT early in the project lifecycle, using Collaborative Procurement (CP) principles as the foundation for maximising long-term value creation.The wider impact of this work lies in framing DT as an asset governance tool which, if embedded systematically from the earliest project stages, can support long-term sustainability outcomes, and provide the foundations required for achieving net-zero targets.The study contextualises this potential by situating DT adoption within industry-standard workflows in the UK that ensure adoption is systematic rather than reactive.Energy performance is a central outcome of DT adoption; however, without a structured framework, opportunities for later building performance optimisation are often missed.Incorporating energy considerations from the outset reduces the gap between predicted and actual outcomes.The findings are relevant to practitioners, policymakers, and industry bodies seeking scalable, standardised approaches to digitalisation that advance both energy performance and sustainability goals.