BIM/Digital Twin-Based Construction Progress Monitoring through Reality Capture to Extended Reality (DRX)

A generic framework for automated construction progress monitoring via introducing a new integration method incorporating the use of reality capture technologies (Laser Scanner and Wireless Sensors), Building Information Modeling (BIM), Digital Twin (DT), and Extended Reality (XR) has been developed in this study. The proposed framework, BIM/Digital twin-based reality capture to extended reality (DRX), in this research, arrays steps on how these technologies work collaboratively to create, capture, generate, analyze, manage, and visualize construction progress data, information, and reports. Interactions among steps and processes to be followed for implementation purposes are discussed through process modeling and Integrated Function Modeling (IDEF0) language. Finally, the reliability, validity, and contribution of the proposed framework was evaluated to understand the DRX model's effectiveness when implemented in real practice. The empirical data were collected through a computerized self-administered questionnaire (CSAQ) survey conducted on contracting and engineering consulting companies operating in the USA, UAE, Sweden, Denmark, and Canada. The structural equation modeling (SEM) method was used to test the hypotheses and develop the skill model. Then, the strengths and challenges of the DRX model have been described based on three different sources of academic publications, construction professionals’ experiences, and the author's lessons learned. It is concluded how the technologies of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), reality capturing, visualization, and robotics, with construction management principles, can establish a DRX model to enable accurate and real-time progress monitoring of complex projects. DRX facilitates more precise as-planned creation, faster as-built data acquisition, optimizing the whole created and captured data, and presenting them in a real environment. This study provides a roadmap for future efforts involving implementation of the DRX system as a new era of design, construction, and monitoring to empower clients, project managers, designers, and other stockholders with advanced decision-making mechanisms to solve discrepancies in an effective manner. Keywords: Automated Construction Progress Monitoring, Building Information Modeling (BIM), Reality Capture (RC), Digital Twins (DT), Extended Reality (XR).