EXPLORING THE CHALLENGES OF IMPLEMENTING DIGITAL TWIN IN FACILITIES MANAGEMENT IN MALAYSIA

Authors

  • Mohamed Rizal Mohamed Studies of Construction, Faculty of Built Environment, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
  • Aina Syahirah Affendy Studies of Construction, Faculty of Built Environment, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
  • Rafizah Mohamed Nordin Studies of Construction, Faculty of Built Environment, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
  • Norji Nasir Studies of Interior Architecture, Faculty of Built Environment, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 42300 Bandar Puncak Alam, Selangor, Malaysia
  • Mohd Najib Abd Rashid Department of Built Environment Studies and Technology, Faculty of Built Environment, Universiti Teknologi MARA Perak, 32610 Bandar Seri Iskandar, Perak, Malaysia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33736/jcest.9008.2026

Keywords:

Digital Twin, Facilities Management, Challenges, Implementation, Malaysia

Abstract

Digital twin technology in facilities management (FM) provides substantial advantages, including predictive maintenance, real-time asset monitoring, and improved decision-making. Nevertheless, the implementation of digital twins in Malaysia's facilities management sector remains constrained, mainly due to various implementation challenges. This study aims to explore these problems using a quantitative analysis derived from a survey of FM managers in Klang Valley, Malaysia. A total of 49 questionnaires received were analysed using descriptive analysis in SPSS version 23. The results identified key challenges, including the digital twin’s technology limitation, high hardware and software costs, and financial limitations. Addressing these issues is critical for successfully adopting digital twin technology, which can ultimately enhance FM practices in Malaysia.

References

International Organization for Standardization, “Facility management–vocabulary (ISO 41011: 2017),” https://bit.ly/2MEuxRY.

Wetzel, E.M., & Thabet, W.Y. (2015). The use of a BIM-based framework to support safe facility management processes. Autom Constr, vol. 60, pp. 12–24. https://doi.10.1016/j.autcon.2015.09.004

Demian, P. & Walters, D. (2014). The advantages of information management through building information modelling. Construction Management and Economics, vol. 32, no. 12, pp. 1153–1165. https://doi. 10.1080/01446193.2013.777754

Zhao, J., Feng, H., Chen, Q., & Garcia de Soto, B. (2022). Developing a conceptual framework for the application of digital twin technologies to revamp building operation and maintenance processes. Journal of Building Engineering, vol. 49, no. January, p. 104028. https://doi.10.1016/j.jobe.2022.104028

Heaton, J., Parlikad, A. K., & Schooling, J. (2019). Design and development of BIM models to support operations and maintenance. Comput Ind, vol. 111, pp. 172–186. https://doi.10.1016/j.compind.2019.08.001

Piaseckienė, G. (2022). Dimensions of BIM in Literature: Review and Analysis. Mokslas - Lietuvos ateitis, vol. 14, pp. 1–11. https://doi.10.3846/mla.2022.16071

Mateev, M. (2020). Industry 4.0 and the digital twin for building industry. International Scientific Journal Industry 4.0, vol. 5, no. 1, pp. 29–32. https://stumejournals.com/journals/i4/2020/1/29.full.pdf

Hakimi, O., Liu, H., & Abudayyeh, O. (2024). Digital twin-enabled smart facility management: A bibliometric review. Frontiers of Engineering Management. Vol. 11, no. 1, pp. 32–49. https://doi.10.1007/s42524-023-0254-4

Shahzad, M., Shafiq, M.T., Douglas, D., & Kassem, M. (2022). Digital twins in built environments: An investigation of the characteristics, applications, and challenges. Buildings, vol. 12, no. 2, pp. 1–19. https://doi. 10.3390/buildings12020120

Shuhaimi, A.M., Mohamed Yusof, L., & Rahman, R. A. (2024). Drivers, Capabilities, and challenges for adopting digital twin in facility management: A profound qualitative investigation. Planning Malaysia, vol. 22. https://doi.10.21837/pm.v22i32.1528

International Facilities Management Association, “What is facility management?”

Atkin, B., & Brooks, A. (2021). Total facility management. 5th edition. John Wiley & Sons

Abu Bakar, Z., & Kamaruzzaman, S. N. (2023). Assessing key technology for facilities management in Malaysia. Journal of Surveying, Construction and Property, vol. 14, no. 1. https://ejournal.um.edu.my/index.php/JSCP/index

Hou, H., Ho, D. C. W., & Yau, Y. (2024). Smart tools to facilitate digitalisation of facilities management service delivery: stakeholders’ perspectives. Facilities, vol. 42, no. 1–2, pp. 27–50, https://doi.10.1108/F-05-2022-0072

Deng, M., Menassa, C. C., & Kamat, V. R. (2021). From BIM to digital twins: a systematic review of the evolution of intelligent building representations in the AEC-FM industry. Journal of Information Technology in Construction, vol. 26, pp. 58–83. https://doi.10.36680/j.itcon.2021.005

Harode, A., Thabet, W., & Dongre, P. (2023). A tool-based system architecture for a digital twin: a case study in a healthcare facility. Journal of Information Technology in Construction, vol. 28, pp. 107–137. https://doi.10.36680/j.itcon.2023.006

Bortolini, R., Rodrigues, R., Alavi, H., Vecchia, L.F.D., & Forcada, N. (2022). Digital Twins’ Applications for Building Energy Efficiency: A Review. Energies (Basel), vol. 15, no. 19, p. 7002. https://doi. 10.3390/en15197002

Peng, Y., Zhang, M., Yu, F., Xu, J., & Gao, S. (2020). Digital Twin Hospital Buildings: An Exemplary Case Study through Continuous Lifecycle Integration. Advances in Civil Engineering, vol. 2020, no. 1, https://doi. 10.1155/2020/8846667

Hosamo, H. H., Imran, A., Cardenas-Cartagena, J., Svennevig, P.R., Svidt, K., & Nielsen, H.K. (2022). A review of the digital twin technology in the AEC‐FM industry. Advances in Civil Engineering, no. 1. https://doi.10.1155/2022/2185170

Li, Q., Li, Z., Tang, X., Yang, H., & Song, Y. (2023). Demonstration and validation of the digital twin technology for a regional multi-energy system. International Conference on Computer, Artificial Intelligence, and Control Engineering. p. 66. https://doi.10.1117/12.2680880

Elyasi, N., Bellini, A., & Klungseth, N. J. (2023). Digital transformation in facility management: An analysis of the challenges and benefits of implementing digital twins in the use phase of a building. IOP Conf Ser Earth Environ Sci, vol. 1176, no. 1, p. 012001. https://doi.10.1088/1755-1315/1176/1/012001

Akanmu, A. A., Anumba, C. J., & Ogunseiju, O.O. (2021). Towards next generation cyber-physical systems and digital twins for construction. Journal of Information Technology in Construction, vol. 26, pp. 505–525. https://doi.10.36680/j.itcon.2021.027

Liljaniemi, A., & Paavilainen, H. (2020). Using digital twin technology in engineering education – course concept to explore benefits and barriers. Open Engineering, vol. 10, no. 1, pp. 377–385. https://doi.10.1515/eng-2020-0040

Perno, M., Hvam, L., & Haug, A. (2022). Implementation of digital twins in the process industry: A systematic literature review of enablers and barriers. Comput Ind, vol. 134, p. 103558. https://doi.10.1016/j.compind.2021.103558

Park, J.S., Lee, D.G., Jimenez, J.A., Lee, S.J., & Kim, J.W. (2023). Human-Focused Digital Twin Applications for Occupational Safety and Health in Workplaces: A Brief Survey and Research Directions. Applied Sciences, vol. 13, no. 7, p. 4598. https://doi.10.3390/app13074598

Sousa, B., Arieiro, M., Pereira, V., Correia, J., Lourenço, N., & Cruz, T. (2021). Elegant: Security of Critical Infrastructures with Digital Twins. IEEE Access, vol. 9, pp. 107574–107588. https://doi.10.1109/ACCESS.2021.3100708

Banyai, K., & Kovacs, L. (2023). Identification of influence of digital twin technologies on production systems: a return on investment-based approach. Eastern-European Journal of Enterprise Technologies, vol. 4, no. 13 (124), pp. 66–78. https://doi.10.15587/1729-4061.2023.283876

Rasheed, A., San, O., & Kvamsdal, T. (2020). Digital Twin: Values, Challenges and Enablers From a Modeling Perspective. IEEE Access, vol. 8, pp. 21980–22012. https://doi.10.1109/ACCESS.2020.2970143

Liu, Z., Meng, X., Xing, Z., & Jiang, A. (2021). Digital Twin-Based Safety Risk Coupling of Prefabricated Building Hoisting. Sensors, vol. 21, no. 11, p. 3583. https://doi.10.3390/s21113583

Wang, J. et al. (2023). Research on coal mine safety management based on digital twin. Heliyon, vol. 9, no. 3, p. e13608. https://doi.10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e13608

Lu, Y., Liu, C., Wang, K.I.K., Huang, H., & Xu, X. (2020). Digital Twin-driven smart manufacturing: Connotation, reference model, applications and research issues. Robot Comput Integr Manuf, vol. 61, p. 101837. https://doi.10.1016/j.rcim.2019.101837

Varghese, S.A., Dehlaghi Ghadim, A., Balador, A., Alimadadi, Z., & Papadimitratos, P. (2022). Digital Twin-based Intrusion Detection for Industrial Control Systems. IEEE International Conference on Pervasive Computing and Communications Workshops and other Affiliated Events (PerCom Workshops), pp. 611–617. https://doi.10.1109/PerComWorkshops53856.2022.9767492

Gehrmann, C., & Gunnarsson, M. (2020). A Digital Twin Based Industrial Automation and Control System Security Architecture. IEEE Trans Industr Inform, vol. 16, no. 1, pp. 669–680. https://doi.10.1109/TII.2019.2938885

Moncrief, W.C., Reisinger, H., & Baldauf, A. (1999). Examining motivations to refuse in industrial mail surveys. International Journal of Market Research, vol. 41, no. 3, p. 345. https://doi.org/10.1177/147078539904100302

Hager, M.A., Wilson, S., Pollak, T.H., & Rooney, P.M. (2003). Response rates for mail surveys of nonprofit organizations: A review and empirical test. Nonprofit Voluntary Sector Quarterly, vol. 32, no. 2, pp. 252–267. https://doi.10.1177/0899764003251617

Downloads

Published

2026-04-30

How to Cite

Mohamed, M. R., Affendy, A. S., Mohamed Nordin, R., Nasir, N., & Abd Rashid, M. N. (2026). EXPLORING THE CHALLENGES OF IMPLEMENTING DIGITAL TWIN IN FACILITIES MANAGEMENT IN MALAYSIA. Journal of Civil Engineering, Science and Technology, 17(1), 52–60. https://doi.org/10.33736/jcest.9008.2026