THE IMPACT OF BIM AND DIGITAL TWIN TECHNOLOGIES ON RISK REDUCTION IN CIVIL INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS

Abstract

This study investigated how Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Digital Twin (DT) technologies influenced risk reduction in civil infrastructure projects using a cross-sectional quantitative design. The dataset comprised 168 civil infrastructure projects across highways (36.9%), bridges (24.4%), rail corridors (19.6%), tunnels (10.7%), and water infrastructure (8.3%), delivered through design–bid–build (39.9%), design–build (32.1%), and PPP/alliance procurement (28.0). Digital implementation showed mid-to-high BIM practice (BIM adoption intensity M = 3.74, SD = 0.71; BIM maturity M = 3.58, SD = 0.68) and more dispersed DT practice (DT utilization M = 3.12, SD = 0.89; DT predictive capacity M = 3.26, SD = 0.84), while integration maturity remained moderate (M = 3.41, SD = 0.79). Risk reduction outcomes demonstrated substantial variability (cost risk reduction M = 64.8, SD = 12.5; schedule M = 61.3, SD = 13.9; safety M = 55.7, SD = 15.6; quality M = 59.9, SD = 14.2; operational M = 67.2, SD = 11.8; composite index M = 61.8, SD = 10.7). Correlations were positive across domains, with integration maturity showing the strongest association with the composite risk index (r = 0.61). Reliability and validity were adequate for all constructs (Cronbach’s alpha 0.81–0.89, composite reliability 0.86–0.92, AVE 0.53–0.64), and collinearity remained acceptable (VIF 1.20–2.27). Hierarchical regression indicated that BIM predictors explained the largest incremental variance in cost and schedule risk reduction (ΔR² = 0.18–0.20), DT predictors contributed most to safety and operational risk reduction (ΔR² = 0.15–0.22), and integration maturity added broad multi-risk explanatory power, especially for the composite index (ΔR² = 0.14, β = 0.41, p < .001). Moderation tests showed complexity weakened BIM scheduling effects, whereas data reliability and team digital capability strengthened DT and integration impacts. Overall, BIM stabilized delivery risks, DTs strengthened safety and operational reliability, and BIM–DT integration yielded the most comprehensive multidimensional risk reduction.