Cyber-physical internet based intelligent operation platform for off-site construction supply chain management

ABSTRACT

Off-site construction (OSC) projects rely on a smooth off-site supply chain. Previous studies improved supply chain management (SCM), while scantly mentioning business flow and recent advanced technology. This paper proposes a three-layered cyber-physical internet (CPI)-based platform for practical OSC-SCM. The scalable layer connects resources via an industrial driver (ID) for an information chain. The kernel layer designs protocols for digital twins (DT) and twin networks with incentive and information sharing mechanisms. The application layer offers thirteen services for offsite plant, logistics, and on-site assembly. A case study demonstrates 20% reduced construction time and millions of cost savings, proving enhanced efficiency.

KEYWORDS:

• Cyber-physical internet
• digital twin technology
• supply chain management
• off-site construction
• intelligent platform

Acknowledgments

Acknowledgement is given to RGC GRF (17203620), Public Policy Research Funding (2022.A8.129.22C), Guangdong Special Support Talent Program—Innovation and Entrepreneurship Leading Team under Grant 2019BT02S593, RGC Research Impact Fund (R7036-22) and RGC Theme-based Research Scheme (T32-707-22-N).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The work was supported by the RGC Research Impact Fund RGC Theme-based Research Scheme Public Policy Research Funding Guangdong Special Support Talent Program—Innovation and Entrepreneurship Leading Team under Grant Research Grants Council, University Grants Committee.