The Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Indonesia (FTUI), through the Interdisciplinary Engineering Research Unit, the Institute for Urban Planning and Smart Cities, and the Center for Sustainability and Infrastructure Development (CSID), organized a seminar titled “From BIM to Digital Twins: Advancing Data-Driven Decision-Making in Construction Project Management” at the Auditorium of the IDE Building, 2nd Floor, FTUI. The event featured Associate Professor from the Faculty of Civil Engineering Technology, Universiti Malaysia Pahang, Al-Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA), Dr. Rahimi A. Rahman, as the keynote speaker, and was moderated by Dr. Titi Sari Nurul Rachmawati, a lecturer from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering FTUI.
The seminar discussed the ongoing digital transformation in the construction sector, particularly the evolution from Building Information Modeling (BIM) toward the implementation of digital twins as an advanced approach to supporting data-driven decision-making in construction project management. In his presentation, Dr. Rahimi explained that the application of digital twins functions not only as a virtual representation of physical assets but also as a strategic instrument for real-time monitoring, predictive analysis, simulation, and decision optimization throughout the entire construction project lifecycle.
During his presentation, Dr. Rahimi emphasized that the main challenge in implementing digital technology within the construction sector lies not merely in data availability but in organizational readiness to process data into accurate and reliable decision-making tools. He also presented various recent research findings related to as-built BIM quality, BIM project readiness, hidden costs in BIM implementation, and strategies for developing accurate digital twins within construction environments.
In a separate statement, the Dean of FTUI, Prof. Kemas Ridwan Kurniawan, S.T., M.Sc., Ph.D., remarked, “The development of digital technologies such as BIM and digital twins presents significant opportunities to transform the construction sector into a more integrated, efficient, and data-driven system. FTUI views the strengthening of academic and research capacities in this field as an important step in preparing outstanding talents capable of addressing the challenges of future infrastructure development.”
Furthermore, the seminar highlighted the importance of regional collaboration between Indonesia and Malaysia in establishing a shared framework for the adoption of BIM and digital twin technologies. Discussions covered the development of data standards, enhancement of human resource competencies, strengthening of digital governance, and the formulation of joint research agendas to support the transformation of the construction industry across Southeast Asia.
The event was attended by members of the FTUI academic community, researchers, construction industry practitioners, and students with interests in digital construction technology development. Through this seminar, FTUI once again reaffirmed its role as a higher education institution actively promoting knowledge development, interdisciplinary research, and technological innovation to support sustainable development in Indonesia and globally.
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Public Communication Office
Faculty of Engineering Universitas Indonesia
