Mitigating Delays in Road Construction Projects through Digital Twin Technology & UAV Orthomosaic Mapping

Abstract

Road infrastructure is critical for a country's economic development, yet its construction projects frequently encounter schedule overruns due to inefficient monitoring practices and deviations from the planned schedule baseline. To address these challenges, Digital Twin (DT) technology has emerged as a transformative solution, capable of providing real-time insights into construction progress through the integration of advanced tools such as orthomosaic-based photogrammetry and Geographic Information Systems (GIS).This study develops and applies a DT-based framework for road infrastructure projects. Unlike standard approaches, this framework uses high-resolution orthomosaic imagery acquired by Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) fly at regular intervals. Integrating photos into Autodesk Infraworks creates an accurate and dynamic Digital Twin for progress tracking. This method eliminates the need for Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) or point clouds, resulting in a more efficient process for recording and presenting project data. The suggested methodology effectively addresses important delay reasons, including poor planning, insufficient monitoring, and unexpected design changes. This work combines DT technology, photogrammetry, and GIS to deliver practical results. This unique technology enhances project oversight, improves schedule adherence, and reduces delays in road infrastructure building.