PRIORITISING DIGITAL TWIN APPLICATIONS ACROSS CONSTRUCTION PROJECT LIFECYCLE PHASES: EVIDENCE FROM NIGERIA

Abstract

The adoption of emerging technologies such as Digital Twin (DT) in the Nigerian construction industry has been constrained by limited technical capacity and inadequate contextual understanding. Although prior studies have examined DT applications and benefits in developing economies, a systematic classification and prioritisation of its applications across a construction project lifecycle remains insufficiently explored within the Nigerian context. The study aims to identify, prioritise, and categorise DT applications throughout the project lifecycle. A quantitative research design was adopted, employing a purposive sampling technique to draw on data from 109 construction professionals, including project managers, architects, civil engineers, and consultants, collected through a web-based survey. Descriptive statistics and principal component analysis (PCA) were employed to examine the underlying structure of DT applications. The analysis identified two principal components: Virtual Prototyping and Operations Management, which together explain 68.99% of the total variance and underpin enhanced decision-making and improved project performance. These components enabled the study to determine which DT applications hold the strongest practical relevance across the pre-construction, construction, and post-construction phases of the Nigerian construction industry. Future research should consider to implement and test DT in a longitudinal way based on several case studies from different countries to get more in-depth insights in the applicability of DT in developing economies.