Advancing Smart Construction Management: A Comprehensive Analysis of Digital Twin Applications and Challenges

The construction industry faces persistent challenges across all project lifecycle phases, emphasizing the need for innovative management solutions. Digital twin (DT) technology, a core component of Industry 5.0, offers transformative potential by seamlessly integrating physical and digital systems for enhanced construction project management. This study presents a systematic literature review of 395 publications to evaluate the historical development, current applications, and challenges of DT in construction. Employing advanced analytical methods such as formal concept analysis, network tree visualization, and R-based text mining, this research comprehensively synthesizes DT’s role across preconstruction, construction, and postconstruction phases to lead its adoption of Industry 5.0. Findings highlight DT’s capabilities in improving project planning, real-time monitoring, and maintenance while addressing ongoing adoption barriers, including data interoperability, economic constraints, and regulatory compliance. By bridging gaps between theory and practice, this study provides actionable insights for practitioners and a foundational roadmap for future research in smart digital sustainability construction project management.