Digital Twin Framework Sets New Standard for Modular Building Efficiency
Relocatable modular buildings (RMBs) have long been hailed as a sustainable and flexible alternative to conventional construction. Their appeal lies in the ability to assemble prefabricated modules quickly, transport them with relative ease, and significantly cut down on waste, disruption, and cost.
Despite their promise, the widespread adoption of RMBs has been hindered by one pressing challenge: effective management across multiple lifecycles. Tracking components, ensuring modules are reused efficiently, and coordinating logistics often prove to be stumbling blocks.
Now, researchers at Hanyang University ERICA in South Korea have unveiled a digital twin framework designed to revolutionise facility management for RMBs. Their study, published in Automation in Construction, introduces a system that could transform how modular buildings are monitored, maintained, and redeployed across project lifecycles.
The Research Team Behind the Innovation
The breakthrough was spearheaded by Associate Professor Yonghan Ahn from the School of Architecture & Architectural Engineering at Hanyang University ERICA, alongside Dr. Dennis Nguyen from the Center for AI Technology in Construction. Their work takes a bold step towards integrating digital twins into modular construction, an area where adoption has so far lagged behind other industries.
Professor Ahn noted: “Digital twin technology is a groundbreaking tool that offers a digital replica of physical assets, integrating real-time data, predictive analysis, and decision-making abilities. Although digital twins are gaining popularity in other fields, their use in modular construction remains limited. We introduce a novel digital twin-enabled facility management system tailored specifically for RMBs.”
Their findings were made available online on 5 May 2025 and formally published on 1 August 2025 in Automation in Construction (Vol. 176).
Digital Twin Facility Management in Action
The new digital twin facility management system (DT-FMS) combines three core digital technologies:
- Building Information Modelling (BIM): offering detailed 3D modelling and centralised data.
- Internet of Things (IoT): providing real-time monitoring via sensors embedded in modular units.
- Geographic Information Systems (GIS): enabling logistics simulations and location-based decision-making.
By linking these tools, the DT-FMS creates a living, breathing digital representation of RMBs that supports planning, monitoring, and optimisation throughout their lifecycle.
Dr. Nguyen highlighted the environmental implications: “Our research highlights the important role of digital twins in promoting a circular economy by enabling the reuse, reconfiguration, and optimal relocation of modular units, thereby minimising waste and maximising value throughout repeating project cycles.”
A Three-Layered Framework
The system is structured around three interconnected layers:
- Physical Layer: Focused on real-time communication between resources, modular units, and people, this layer enables continuous tracking of equipment, materials, and stakeholders.
- Digital Layer: Incorporates modelling, analytics, and integration of multiple data streams. Here, BIM, IoT, and GIS converge to create a virtual environment mirroring real-world conditions.
- Service Layer: Allows decision-makers to interact with the digital twin, using its predictive and monitoring capabilities to enhance facility management decisions.
This layered approach ensures that the DT-FMS not only collects data but also interprets it in ways that improve decision-making at every stage of a project’s lifecycle.
A Relocatable Modular School
To test the framework’s capabilities, the team applied it to a relocatable modular school system in South Korea. The results were compelling. The DT-FMS streamlined module distribution and improved the reuse of units, which in turn boosted overall efficiency and reduced logistical headaches.
By simulating relocation scenarios digitally before physically moving components, project teams could anticipate potential bottlenecks, allocate resources more efficiently, and ensure modules were reused in the most effective manner.
Implications for the Construction Industry
Digital twin adoption in modular construction could be a game-changer for several reasons:
- Improved Circular Economy Practices: RMBs already lend themselves to reuse and relocation. Digital twins take this further by providing accurate data to maximise material efficiency.
- Lower Costs and Waste: With predictive analytics, project teams can identify the best way to redeploy units, minimising unnecessary production of new modules.
- Enhanced Sustainability: By extending the lifecycle of modular units and reducing waste, digital twins contribute directly to sustainable construction practices.
This innovation aligns with broader industry trends where sustainability, digitalisation, and resilience are becoming central to infrastructure delivery worldwide.
Hanyang University ERICA
Hanyang University’s ERICA campus in Ansan has built a reputation as one of South Korea’s most research-focused institutions. Established in 1979, ERICA emphasises close ties between academia and industry. Students benefit from partnerships that give them hands-on experience and real-world insight, ensuring graduates are well-prepared to lead in fields such as sustainable construction and digital engineering.
Professor Ahn, who leads the Sustainable Building and Construction Management Laboratory at ERICA, has a strong background in modular construction, green building design, and BIM integration. Dr. Nguyen, a postdoctoral researcher in smart city engineering, continues to focus on sustainable modular systems and AI-driven construction technologies.
The Road Ahead
The Hanyang University study represents more than a technical advancement. It marks a cultural shift towards embedding digital intelligence into modular construction. With relocatable modular buildings gaining traction in disaster relief, education, healthcare, and housing, the potential applications of this framework are vast.
By marrying digital twins with modular construction, the researchers have created a pathway to greater efficiency, sustainability, and circularity. Their work not only addresses current challenges but also paves the way for RMBs to become a cornerstone of sustainable construction practices worldwide.
Building Smarter, Greener Futures
As the construction sector grapples with climate challenges, labour shortages, and the need for rapid deployment of facilities, RMBs offer a compelling solution. Hanyang University’s DT-FMS ensures these benefits aren’t undermined by inefficiencies in management and logistics.
Instead, digital twins can unlock the full potential of modular systems, helping the industry build smarter, greener, and more adaptable infrastructure for the future.
