Next-Gen BIM and Digital Construction Technologies

A special issue of Architecture (ISSN 2673-8945).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 December 2026 | Viewed by 2326

Special Issue Editors

Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
Interests: BIM; AR; VR; UAV; sustainable construction; IRT
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Guest Editor
Department of Construction Management, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA
Interests: semantic web technologies; linked data and knowledge graphs; road infrastructure life cycle analysis; building information modeling (BIM); green construction; construction safety; construction efficiency lean six sigma; application of Internet of Things (IoT) in construction

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Guest Editor
Department of Engineering Leadership and Society, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Interests: LEED; BIM; UAV; construction estimating; construction technology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry is in the midst of a great digital transformation with the adoption of next-generation building information modeling (BIM) and latest digital construction technologies. BIM has matured far beyond being a 3D design/coordinate tool and has emerged as the very heart of information handling for the complete lifecycle of built assets from the designing and planning stage all the way through construction, operation, and maintenance. Concurrently, new technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), digital twins, augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), blockchain, robotics, and automated sensing technologies are redefining the methods of working, achieving new heights of efficiency, collaboration, and data-based decisions.

The present Special Issue will gather state-of-the-art studies, innovative application cases, and forward-thinking perspectives on investigating the combination of BIM and other advanced digital construction technologies. The objective is to gather theoretical advances and real-world implementations, showing how the combined solutions will help to solve the industry's chronic problems of cost overruns, scheduling delays, safety risks, productivity bottlenecks, and sustainability aims.

We welcome contributions that address, but are not limited to, the following topics:

  • BIM-based digital twins for real-time asset management;
  • Incorporation of BIM with IoT, sensor networks, and data acquisition systems automation;
  • AI and machine learning-based deployments of predictive analytics and process optimization within BIM work processes;
  • Extended reality (AR/VR/MR) for immersive design review, training, and construction monitoring;
  • Blockchain-enabled data integrity, supply chain transparency, and smart contracts in BIM environments;
  • BIM for sustainable design, energy efficiency, and lifecycle carbon assessment;
  • Inclusion of automation and robotics in BIM-based control and planning systems;
  • Standardization, interoperability, and open-BIM initiatives for next-generation collaboration.

Through the gathering of multifaceted views from scholars, practitioners, and policymakers, this Special Issue aims to develop the theoretical underpinnings, technical competencies, and adoption frameworks of future BIM and digital construction technologies. Ultimately, it aims to offer a platform that not only shares up-to-date knowledge but also encourages research translation into industry application in support of a global shift toward more intelligent, safe, and sustainable built environments.

We look forward to receiving original research articles, comprehensive reviews, case studies, and technical notes that contribute to shaping the future of digital construction.

Dr. Ri Na
Dr. Tianjiao Zhao
Dr. Xi Wang
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • Building Information Modeling (BIM)
  • digital construction
  • Artificial Intelligence (AI)
  • Internet of Things (IoT)
  • digital twins
  • Augmented Reality (AR)
  • Virtual Reality (VR)

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

24 pages, 1571 KB  
Article
Immersive Technology Integration for Improved Quality Assurance and Assessment Jobs in Construction
by Alireza Ahankoob, Behzad Abbasnejad, Sahar Soltani and Ri Na
Architecture 2025, 5(4), 107; https://doi.org/10.3390/architecture5040107 - 6 Nov 2025
Viewed by 1204
Abstract
Construction quality failures impose substantial costs on the industry, with traditional quality assurance (QA) methods operating reactively by detecting problems after they occur rather than preventing them during planning and design phases. Limited research exists on the systematic integration of immersive technologies (IMTs) [...] Read more.
Construction quality failures impose substantial costs on the industry, with traditional quality assurance (QA) methods operating reactively by detecting problems after they occur rather than preventing them during planning and design phases. Limited research exists on the systematic integration of immersive technologies (IMTs) for proactive quality failure prevention across construction project lifecycles. This study investigates how IMTs can systematically prevent specific quality failure categories through enhanced spatial visualization and virtual verification processes. A qualitative approach was employed, combining scoping literature review, two purposively selected case studies, and autoethnographic analysis to capture both performance metrics and implementation insights. Case Study 1 achieved 8% improvement in solar panel placement efficiency (optimizing from 82 to 90 modules) and 1.7% increase in useful energy production (85.8% vs. 84.1%) through BIM-Unreal Engine integration for shadow analysis and spatial optimization. Case Study 2 demonstrated virtual site mobilization using the Revit–Twinmotion workflow, eliminating spatial conflicts and safety clearance violations during pre-construction planning. Findings revealed that IMT applications systematically address quality failure root causes by preventing design coordination errors, measurement mistakes, and regulatory non-compliance through virtual verification before physical implementation. This paper establishes IMTs as transformative QA platforms that fundamentally shift construction quality management from reactive detection to proactive prevention, offering measurable improvements in project delivery efficiency and quality outcomes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Next-Gen BIM and Digital Construction Technologies)
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