An emerging trend in the construction sector EJINSIGHT

Between 2020 and 2060, the world is expected to add approximately 2.6 trillion square feet (241 billion square meters) of space every month for 40 years, equivalent to the entire city of New York. Meanwhile, the global construction market has reached $14 trillion, or 14.2% of global gross domestic product (GDP).

In Hong Kong, the value added by the construction industry was HKD 121.8 billion in 2022, accounting for 4.3% of GDP. However, construction costs in Hong Kong are among the highest in the world. According to the consulting company McKinsey, the cost of construction in Hong Kong is $36 per square meter, which is more expensive than in San Francisco ($33) in the US and much higher than in Singapore ($22) and Shanghai ($19), even though wages in these places are similar.

The consultant expects the industry’s productivity and cost problems to continue to worsen over the coming decade. At the same time, throughout their life cycle, buildings generate 42% of the world’s annual carbon dioxide emissions. All this makes the digital transformation of the local construction industry a pressing issue.

As a result, in recent years, digital twins have become a powerful tool for local industry pioneers to monitor and even predict the progress of construction projects. Combined with real-time display of sensor data on a geographic information system (GIS) dashboard and a wealth of information such as drone imagery, this enables management to respond in a timely manner. With the development of modular integrated construction (MiC), planners can not only use this software to “see” installation sequences and living conditions, but can also ensure on-time delivery so that the construction process runs smoothly.

When creating digital twins, construction professionals always integrate advanced GIS technology with building information modeling (BIM) software. GIS and BIM complement each other perfectly, taking care of everything from material delivery routes, environmental impacts to weather conditions, enabling managers to plan more effectively, reduce waste and injuries, save costs and increase emissions reductions.

In the local architecture, engineering and construction sector, Gammon is a pioneer of digital twins.

Gammon developed the original GTwin solution for the 1,450-seat Lyric Theater complex in the West Kowloon Cultural District, scheduled for completion in 2025, and uses a three-dimensional (3D) digital twin model to improve facility security and operations management. In addition, the company also produces 4D models that simulate the construction process in order to optimize and improve construction methods. Aerial photography, laser scanning and 3D imagery were used to capture construction data to ensure the design was completed as intended, representing a significant step towards digital transformation, raising safety standards, ensuring the highest quality and improving productivity.

With such strong results, it’s no wonder that last year the company was the only company in Hong Kong to win Esri’s annual Special Achievement Award for GIS.

Dr. Winnie Tang

Assistant Professor, Department of Computer Science, Faculty of Engineering; Department of Geography, Faculty of Social Sciences; and the Faculty of Architecture, University of Hong Kong