Integrating digital twin technologies for maintenance 4.0 in the building industry

A review and conceptual framework

Review (2026)
Author(s)

Wei Hu (Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology, Nanyang Technological University)

Yifu Ou (The University of Hong Kong)

Haiyi Liu (Hiroshima University)

Peizhou Ni (Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology)

C. Chang (TU Delft - Resources & Recycling)

Research Group
Resources & Recycling
DOI related publication
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2025.113997
More Info
expand_more
Publication Year
2026
Language
English
Research Group
Resources & Recycling
Volume number
288
Reuse Rights

Other than for strictly personal use, it is not permitted to download, forward or distribute the text or part of it, without the consent of the author(s) and/or copyright holder(s), unless the work is under an open content license such as Creative Commons.

Abstract

The building industry is facing increasing demands for sustainable and efficient maintenance practices, driven by advancements in Industry 4.0 technologies. Maintenance 4.0 emphasizes proactive maintenance strategies, including Condition-based Maintenance (CbM) and Predictive Maintenance (PdM), significantly enhanced by Digital Twin (DT) technology. DT enables the real-time monitoring, simulation, and optimization of building assets, offering substantial improvements in asset management, energy efficiency, and system longevity. However, integrating these technologies into the building industry's maintenance processes remains a challenge. This paper provides a comprehensive review of current research on DT-enabled Maintenance 4.0, presenting a conceptual framework that integrates enabling technologies and outlines their technological pipelines. It discusses the state-of-the-art methodologies, challenges, and future directions for the implementation of Maintenance 4.0 in the building sector, highlighting the potential of DT systems in optimizing maintenance strategies and enhancing decision-making. The study identifies key areas for further research, including data standardization, AI integration, and hybrid modeling approaches.