Barriers to adopting digital twin technology for contract administration in Sri Lankan construction sector

Abstract

The construction industry in Sri Lanka faces growing pressure to improve sustainability, efficiency, and transparency across project lifecycles. Digital Twin Technologies (DTT) offer real-time, data-driven digital representations of construction processes, opening an avenue for enhancing contract administration practices and supporting sustainable construction. However, the implementation of DTT remains limited within the Sri Lankan context. This study investigates the organisational and technological barriers hindering the adoption of DTT for contract administration in Sri Lanka’s construction sector. A qualitative research design was employed, incorporating a thematic analysis of semi-structured in-depth interviews with industry professionals. The findings reveal that key organisational barriers include resistance from organisational culture, generational divide, and skills shortages. The key technological challenges encompass cybersecurity risks, interoperability issues, infrastructure gaps, and data quality issues. Despite these constraints, the study identifies actionable insights to support DTT adoption, including variation management programs and pilot projects, Mentorship programs and hybrid workflows, university partnerships, and provides certification incentives, robust data encryption, and localized cybersecurity protocols. The paper contributes to the body of knowledge on digital innovation in contract administration and offers practical recommendations for policymakers, practitioners, and researchers seeking to foster digital transformation in emerging construction markets.