Optimizing Mass Management and Earthwork in Construction Logistics: A Digital Twin Approach

Sammanfattning

The construction industry struggles with low productivity and huge environmental impact, which leads to the need for new solutions. Earthwork operations and mass management are among the most resource intensive and environmentally impactful activities in a construction project. The thesis project explores how Digital Twin (DT) technology can be implemented to address these challenges by improve planning, execution, and sustainability in construction logistics. The study follows a mixed-methods approach combining literature review, semi-structured interviews, framework and prototype development. This study identifies the current challenges in earthwork operations and mass management, the key components of a DT framework for construction logistics, and the data requirements for successful DT implementation. A DT framework tailored to the Swedish construction context was developed, which includes a three-layer architecture: the connection layer, data layer, and visualization layer. This framework supports decision-making across the design, planning, and production phases. A small-scall prototype was created to cover one part of the DT framework, focusing on delivery optimization. It uses historical delivery patterns, traffic delay data, and Norrkoping link-based travel times to generate optimized delivery schedules. The prototype also integrates real-time updates which is manually input by the user. The prototype demonstrates how integrating real-time and historical data can the dynamic planning of construction logistics. The findings show that DT technology can significantly reduce delivery inefficiencies, lower CO₂ emissions, and improve coordination between stakeholders. This study contributes to the growing body of knowledge on digital transformation in construction logistics and offers practical insights for project managers, suppliers, and site managers aiming to implement digital solutions for more productive and sustainable construction logistics.