LOKET (LOgistieke KETenregie voor binnenstedelijk bouwen)

The Netherlands is on the eve of an enormous construction logistics challenge. The increasing pressure on the housing market, but also the nitrogen crisis and the climate treaty demand a rapid reduction in emissions, while the demand for sustainably built homes is increasing (100,000 new homes per year from 2024). Previous studies have shown that construction logistics solutions, such as construction hubs, are available and successful. Unfortunately, large-scale application remains unrealized. These studies also show that the main causes are poor chain management and a limited degree of digitization in the construction chain. This leads to fragmentation and inefficiency in construction logistics, unnecessary failure costs (>5% of the purchase price), delays in construction and nuisance to the living environment. These challenges are all the more important in inner-city construction projects, where there is already a lack of space, and the nuisance of construction activities is extra sensitive. The supporting consortium partners are convinced that by intensification of chain management, supported by the right digital tools an acceleration and upscaling of the application of construction logistics solutions is possible. This will lead to the desired reduction in emissions and contribute to the ambitions of the Top Sector Logistics. Based on the current reduction, half the size of the emission reduction is 0.11 Mton CO2 and 0.8 kton NOx. This estimate will be tightened by findings in this study.

This research focuses on chain management. Digitization plays an important role in facilitating chain management. BIM and digital twins are innovations that can provide a breakthrough for chain management by facilitating planning and simulation based on (real-time) data. BIM is a shared source of knowledge and information about a building that forms the basis for making decisions throughout the entire life cycle of a structure. BIM can therefore support chain management and provide construction logistics processes with information. A digital twin is a dynamic digital representation of a physical object, process or system. Application of digital twins to construction logistics processes not only provides new methodologies for better decision-making, but also supports the exchange of information between parties. In addition to the digitization developments in the construction sector, another important development is the digitization agenda in logistics. Based on the Digital Transport Strategy for Goods Transport (DTS), the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management is committed to digitizing all data relating to the entire freight transport within 10 years. This research provides important insights into how standards can help to realize new construction logistics concepts for chain management and accelerate their application. Therefore, close cooperation with the DSGO programme is maintained.

This project investigates the role that digital twins can play for various forms of chain management, based on the availability and use of (real-time) data from construction and the construction logistics chain. This provides insight into the possibilities that digital twins offer for better organization of chain management, and the necessary logistics control information and requirements for standards for construction information (such as BIM standards) and logistics control information (BDI). To this end, demonstrators of digital twins are being developed in three different practical cases (Den Bosch, Eindhoven and Utrecht), which support chain management functions. The cases have been chosen strategically, in such a way that a wide range of construction logistics functions are covered for various forms of chain management, both for operational and tactical/strategic planning. All cases concern area-oriented chain management in an inner-city context, as that is where the urgency for a chain management approach to construction logistics is highest.

The research project follows a 'design science' research approach, going through the standard 'design science' steps: problem analysis, design (including stakeholder analysis, formulating requirements, design/development) and validation. The first work package (WP1) focuses on problem analysis and partly consists of a theoretical exploration of the various forms of chain management and the possible applications of digital twins for the context of construction logistics. This is a desk research activity led by UT which results in a position paper. The continuation of the research (WP2) is the design phase in which demonstrators of digital twins are designed and realized for three different practical cases, drawn by different knowledge partners (Den Bosch by JADS, Eindhoven by TNO and Utrecht by Hogeschool Utrecht). Validation takes place in WP3, where important conditions for the successful application of digital twins in the various forms of chain management are determined on the basis of cross-case analysis. In WP4, the insights are collected and translated into an upscaling strategy for the application of digital twins and chain management in the construction sector. WP5 concerns project management.

This proposal aims to deliver the following results:
• Position paper on the application possibilities of digital twins for chain management in a construction logistics context. For knowledge parties, market parties and government, this gives direction to the development and implementation agenda in the field of digital twins in construction logistics chain management.
• Three demonstrators of digital twins for the three cases (Den Bosch, Eindhoven and Utrecht). These form practical showcases of digital twins that provide support for chain management and construction logistics decisions, and provide insight into the operation, value and feasibility of digital twin applications in the construction and logistics sector.
• Research report with the experiences and lessons learned about the development and application of digital twins to support chain management. This report also pays attention to the impact on important KPIs of Topsector Logistiek (such as CO2 and NOX reduction). This gives direction to the conditions for the successful application of digital twins and the requirements arising from construction logistics chain management for standards in the construction world (BIM) and the logistics world (BDI).
• Upscaling strategy for the application of digital twins and chain management in construction logistics.
The knowledge and demonstrators of digital twin applications developed in this project are unique and innovative for the construction sector, where the degree of digitization is low and chain collaboration is difficult due to a lack of chain management.

Valorisation and dissemination activities take place throughout the duration of the project and start with the 'community building' sessions with the serious game bouwlogistiek@work, with which the consortium partners are gradually involved in the impact of the relevant innovations (digital twins, BIM, BDI , construction logistics chain management) on their organization and working method. The consortium partners are the drivers for innovation within their (local) networks and the lessons learned are made accessible via the public websites of the knowledge institutions involved and the Topsector Logistiek. A sector-wide conference will be organized twice during the course of the project. The demonstrators developed are showcases of digital twin applications that support chain management and construction logistics decisions and provide an idea of the operation, value and feasibility of digital twin applications. In this way, the demonstrators contribute to awareness and will lead to better predictability and control of logistics, with positive effects on the operating result. Part of the valorisation and implementation strategy is drawing up an action plan for broad implementation and scaling up in the sector.