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Digital Twins for Information Management in Digitalization, Sustainability, and Resilience:...
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Digital Twins for Information Management in Digitalization, Sustainability, and Resilience: Bridging Heritage and the Modern Built Environment

A special issue of Buildings (ISSN 2075-5309). This special issue belongs to the section "Construction Management, and Computers & Digitization".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 June 2026 | Viewed by 5369

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Gozde Basak Ozturk

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Department of Civil Engineering, Aydin Adnan Menderes University, 09100 Aydin, Türkiye
2. Department of Engineering, The University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB3 0FA, UK
Interests: digital twins; artificial intelligence; BIM; digital transformation; information management, knowledge management
Dr. Weiwei Chen

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Bartlett School of Sustainable Construction, University College London, 1-19 Torrington Pl, London WC1E 7HB, UK
Interests: HBIM; point cloud; immersive technologies; data management
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Soheila Kookalani

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Civil Engineering, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB3 0FA, UK
Interests: circular economy; digital twin; structural design optimisation; artificial intellifence
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The concept of a digital twin is a promising avenue for the future of built environment information management. It has the potential to bridge the gap between the past and the future, from built heritage to smart structures. This Special Issue explores the transformative potential of digital twins in revolutionizing information management across the built environment. It addresses the dual challenge of preserving built heritage while advancing toward smart and sustainable structures. Topics include the integration of digital technologies like Heritage BIM (HBIM), IoT, AR/VR, and AI to enhance data acquisition, storage, and processing for informed decision-making. In addition, it delves into how digital twins can optimize sustainability, resilience, and resource efficiency in heritage conservation and modern construction. It also examines the application of predictive analytics and scenario modeling for risk management and lifecycle optimization. Through theoretical studies, technological advancements, and real-world applications, this Issue aims to provide a comprehensive perspective on how digital twins are reshaping the built environment for the future.

Dr. Gozde Basak Ozturk
Dr. Weiwei Chen
Dr. Soheila Kookalani
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Buildings is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • digital twins
  • information management
  • artificial intelligence
  • smart structures
  • built heritage
  • sustainability
  • resilience
  • HBIM (heritage BIM)
  • immersive technologies
  • predictive analytics

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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38 pages, 9459 KB  
Article
A Multi-Level Street-View Recognition Framework for Quantifying Spatial Interface Characteristics in Historic Commercial Districts
by Yiyuan Yuan, Zhen Yu and Junming Chen
Buildings 2026, 16(8), 1474; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings16081474 - 8 Apr 2026
Viewed by 466
Abstract
In the context of urban renewal, the spatial interface of historic commercial districts functions as both a carrier of historical character and a key setting for commercial activity, public life, and local cultural expression. To address the limitations of conventional studies that rely [...] Read more.
In the context of urban renewal, the spatial interface of historic commercial districts functions as both a carrier of historical character and a key setting for commercial activity, public life, and local cultural expression. To address the limitations of conventional studies that rely heavily on field observation and qualitative description, this study takes Xiaohe Zhijie in Hangzhou as a case and develops a multi-level street-view recognition framework for the quantitative analysis of spatial interface characteristics. Based on street-view image collection and standardized preprocessing, a sample database was established at the sampling-point scale. Semantic segmentation, automated commercial object detection, and manual interpretation were combined to identify interface elements, including buildings, sky, greenery, pavement, vehicles, pedestrians, and commercial objects, while commercial content was assessed in terms of locality and homogenization. The results show that Xiaohe Zhijie exhibits a building-dominated and relatively enclosed interface pattern, with greenery and pavement forming the basic environmental ground, weak vehicle interference, and localized enhancement of vitality through commercial objects and pedestrian activities. Significant differences were found among street segments in openness, commercial coverage, and local expression. Three interface types were identified: commercial–cultural composite, local life-oriented, and waterfront landscape–cultural composite. The main challenge lies not in commercialization itself, but in stronger visual locality than content locality and increasing homogenization, resulting in a pattern of “localized form but homogenized content.” Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Digital Twins for Information Management in Digitalization, Sustainability, and Resilience: Bridging Heritage and the Modern Built Environment)
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24 pages, 7295 KB  
Article
Architectural Heritage Digitization: A Classification-Driven Semi-Automated Scan-to-HBIM Workflow
by Rnin Salah, Nóra Géczy and Kitti Ajtayné Károlyfi
Buildings 2026, 16(1), 21; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings16010021 - 20 Dec 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1744
Abstract
The digitization of historic architecture increasingly relies on dense point clouds, yet the conversion of these datasets into structured Historic Building Information Models (HBIM) remains slow, inconsistent, and heavily dependent on manual interpretation. This paper introduces a classification-driven, mesh-based semi-automated workflow designed to [...] Read more.
The digitization of historic architecture increasingly relies on dense point clouds, yet the conversion of these datasets into structured Historic Building Information Models (HBIM) remains slow, inconsistent, and heavily dependent on manual interpretation. This paper introduces a classification-driven, mesh-based semi-automated workflow designed to close this gap by providing a controlled, repeatable path from raw TLS data to BIM-ready geometry. The method combines three elements strategically integrated into a unified framework: (1) pre-classified point cloud groups that establish a structured starting point, (2) mesh simplification and slice-based geometric reconstruction executed through Rhino and Grasshopper, and (3) direct BIM integration using Rhino.Inside.Revit to generate categorized HBIM components rather than passive mesh imports. The workflow is validated on an irregular exterior stone column from the historic chapel in Sopronhorpács, Hungary, an element characterized by surface erosion, asymmetric profiles, and deviations from verticality. This type of geometry typically challenges both manual modeling and fully automated shape-fitting. The proposed method reconstructed the column as a Revit Structural Column element with a substantial reduction in modeling time compared to a manual Scan-to-BIM workflow. A deviations analysis confirmed that the reconstructed geometry remained within the millimeter-level accuracy required for conservation-grade documentation. The study demonstrates that combining element-based classification, mesh preprocessing, and controlled semi-automation can significantly improve both the speed and reliability of Scan-to-HBIM processes without requiring technical expertise yet delivers results that align with the precision expected in scientific documentation. By formalizing the Pre-Classified Modeling Logic (PCML), the approach provides a foundation for reconstructing a wide range of heritage elements and establishes a practical step forward toward more efficient, interpretable, and accessible digital preservation practices. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Digital Twins for Information Management in Digitalization, Sustainability, and Resilience: Bridging Heritage and the Modern Built Environment)
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16 pages, 5712 KB  
Article
Intelligent Stirrup Bending and Welding Technology for Reinforcement Processing in Smart Girder Yards
by Shiyu Guan, Xuyang Duan, Yuanhang Wang, Hui Tang, Songwei Li, Wei Zhou, Binpeng Tang and Yingqi Liu
Buildings 2025, 15(22), 4075; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15224075 - 12 Nov 2025
Viewed by 1058
Abstract
With the rapid development of prefabricated bridge construction, traditional manual bending and welding techniques for stirrups increasingly reveal limitations in efficiency, quality, and safety. To promote intelligent technologies in smart girder yards, this study establishes and reports an automated logistics system covering the [...] Read more.
With the rapid development of prefabricated bridge construction, traditional manual bending and welding techniques for stirrups increasingly reveal limitations in efficiency, quality, and safety. To promote intelligent technologies in smart girder yards, this study establishes and reports an automated logistics system covering the entire workflow of bending–delivering–welding–storage for reinforcement processing, alongside key innovations, including an integrated stirrup bending workstation, an intelligent rebar cage welding station, and laser-adaptive seam-tracking technology. The results demonstrate that the system achieves fully automated and standardized construction of rebar cages, achieving 100% compliance in quality parameters (e.g., rebar spacing) while eliminating quality risks. Implementation in the G107 Chinese National Highway retrofit project reduced the site footprint by 27%, labor input by 40%, and construction duration by 60% compared with conventional prefabrication yards, saving CNY 3.38 million per thousand girders and reducing rebar consumption by 50 metric tons. This research provides a replicable technical pathway for intelligent bridge construction and significantly advances the mechanization and digitalization of rebar processing and welding. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Digital Twins for Information Management in Digitalization, Sustainability, and Resilience: Bridging Heritage and the Modern Built Environment)
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Review

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27 pages, 7703 KB  
Review
Application of 4D Technologies in Heritage: A Comprehensive Review
by Yibin Hu, Bo Gao and Haoxi Chen
Buildings 2025, 15(23), 4369; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15234369 - 2 Dec 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1126
Abstract
Three-dimensional (3D) modelling has become essential in the heritage field, but static models cannot capture how heritages evolve over time. To this end, more and more studies have presented four-dimensional (4D, i.e., 3D + time) applications. However, there is no systematic overview. Hence, [...] Read more.
Three-dimensional (3D) modelling has become essential in the heritage field, but static models cannot capture how heritages evolve over time. To this end, more and more studies have presented four-dimensional (4D, i.e., 3D + time) applications. However, there is no systematic overview. Hence, this study provides a comprehensive review of 4D technologies applied to heritage. Through a two-stage Web of Science retrieval, 56 studies (2000–2025) were analysed, covering 3D and heritage building information modelling (HBIM) construction, time incorporation, calibration, and interaction. This review explicitly focuses on how time is incorporated into survey-anchored 3D and HBIM models, and how calibration ensures the reliability of diachronic interpretation. The review distinguishes between survey-anchored 3D and HBIM pipelines, outlines diachronic modelling and calibration workflows, and summarises emerging extensions such as depth sensing, temporal lensing, and time traceback. Moreover, it also provides a mini-review of five-dimensional (5D) applications and their future directions inspired by the 4D overview. The specific contributions of this study are threefold: (i) it synthesises a complete and comparable workflow for integrating time into ordinary 3D models and HBIM; (ii) it formalises calibration principles and reportable metrics for trustworthy temporal reconstruction; and (iii) it clarifies how emerging 5D extensions build on 4D practice rather than replace it. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Digital Twins for Information Management in Digitalization, Sustainability, and Resilience: Bridging Heritage and the Modern Built Environment)
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