Hanyang University Develops Digital Twin Framework for Modular Buildings
Hanyang University Develops Digital Twin Framework for Modular Buildings
Researchers at Hanyang University have introduced a new digital twin facility management system designed to improve the efficiency and sustainability of relocatable modular buildings (RMBs). This framework integrates building information modeling (BIM), internet of things (IoT), and geographic information systems (GIS) to enhance lifecycle management and logistics of modular units, enabling better decision-making across repeated building cycles.
Relocatable modular buildings are an emerging solution for sustainable construction, offering quick assembly, reduced environmental impact, cost efficiency, and safer, cleaner construction environments. Despite these benefits, managing assets and ensuring reuse across multiple lifecycles remains challenging. To address this, Associate Professor Yonghan Ahn from the School of Architecture & Architectural Engineering at Hanyang University ERICA, along with Dr. Dennis Nguyen, developed a digital twin-enabled facility management system (DT-FMS) tailored to RMB projects.
The DT-FMS framework operates through three layers: physical, digital, and service. The physical layer enables real-time tracking of resources, modular units, and people—including stakeholders, engineers, and workers. The digital layer integrates modeling tools, data, and analytics. The service layer allows users to monitor, control, and interact with the digital twin, supporting effective decision-making.
By combining BIM for robust 3D modeling, IoT for real-time sensor data, and GIS for geographic logistics, the system provides a detailed virtual model that supports monitoring, performance analysis, and logistics simulations. According to Prof. Ahn, digital twin technology serves as a groundbreaking tool that offers a digital replica of physical assets, integrating real-time data, predictive analysis, and decision-making abilities.
To demonstrate the framework’s effectiveness, the researchers conducted a case study on a relocatable modular school system in South Korea. The DT-FMS enhanced decisions on module distribution and reuse, significantly improving management efficiency. Their research, published in Automation in Construction (DOI: 10.1016/j.autcon.2025.106249), employed computational simulation and modeling to validate the system’s performance.
Dr. Nguyen emphasized that this work highlights the role of digital twins in promoting a circular economy by enabling the reuse, reconfiguration, and optimal relocation of modular units. This reduces waste while maximizing value across repeated project lifecycles. The authors declared that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have influenced their findings.
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About Hanyang University ERICA
Hanyang University ERICA (Education Research Industry Cluster at Ansan) is a research-driven campus established in 1979 in Ansan, South Korea. It offers undergraduate and graduate programs and is recognized for strong industry-university cooperation, providing students with hands-on experience through active partnerships. The campus emphasizes state-of-the-art facilities, a supportive learning environment, and the university’s founding philosophy of “Love in Deed and Truth.”
Website: https://www.hanyang.ac.kr/web/eng/erica-campus1
About Professor Yonghan Ahn
Professor Yong-Han Ahn is an Associate Professor at the School of Architecture & Architectural Engineering, Hanyang University ERICA. He earned his Ph.D. in Environmental Design and Planning from Virginia Tech and leads the Sustainable Building and Construction Management Laboratory. His research interests cover sustainable construction and infrastructure, green building and design, modular construction, Building Information Modeling (BIM), and the integration of digital technologies and artificial intelligence in construction.
About Dr. Dennis Nguyen
Dr. Dennis Nguyen holds a Ph.D. in Smart City Engineering from Hanyang University and an undergraduate degree in Architecture. He is a postdoctoral researcher at the Center for AI Technology in Construction, where his work focuses on modular construction, digital technologies, and sustainable built environments. His recent projects have advanced facility management and circular economy practices through relocatable modular building systems in South Korea.
Featured image Source: Box Modular
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