**2. Commentary on the Published Papers**

This Special Issue comprises 22 publications, consisting of 20 research articles and two review articles. Within a short period (as of June 2023), the issue has garnered over 30,000 views and received 45 citations, indicating its significant impact. With contributions from 101 co-authors representing 11 countries, this issue offers a global perspective on tradition and innovation in construction project management. The featured papers encompass a wide range of topics, employ diverse methodologies, and examine various geographical contexts, collectively providing valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities within the construction industry.

Table 1 presents a comprehensive summary of the 22 publications, categorizing them based on their general topic tag and specific topic tag. While some articles may address multiple topics, we have assigned a primary topic focus to each paper. Through this synthesis, we have identified five overarching topic groups: technology, management, outcome, product, and urban. This classification aids in organizing the papers and highlighting the main themes explored in this Special Issue.

The papers in this Special Issue unequivocally showcase technology's innovation and transformative potential in the construction industry. For instance, Hartmann et al. [8] utilized digitalization to optimize construction processes in a hospital construction project in Germany. B. Wang et al. [13] identified a significant difference in the efficiency of green technology innovation in the construction industry of the Chengdu-Chongqing metropolitan agglomeration, with an upward trend. H. Li et al. [18] explored the key factors influencing the digital transformation of the construction industry and developed a comprehensive

**Citation:** Ke, Y.; Zhang, J.; Philbin, S.P. Tradition and Innovation in Construction Project Management. *Buildings* **2023**, *13*, 1537. https:// doi.org/10.3390/buildings13061537

Received: 13 June 2023 Accepted: 14 June 2023 Published: 16 June 2023

**Copyright:** © 2023 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https:// creativecommons.org/licenses/by/ 4.0/).

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evaluation system. Doukari et al. [19] compared conventional and automated approaches to creating construction schedules using 4D BIM in real-world projects. Xu et al. [24] provided a systematic commentary on the state-of-the-art research on artificial neural networks in construction management, revealing insufficient attention and implementation challenges. Elrefaey et al. [28] investigated the impact of COVID-19 on the adoption of digital technology in construction projects in the UAE.

**Table 1.** The content of the Special Issue "Tradition and Innovation in Construction Project Management".



#### **Table 1.** *Cont.*

This Special Issue provides insights into the dynamic landscape of construction project management, thereby underscoring the significance of embracing innovative strategies and approaches to overcome challenges in the sector and ensure successful project delivery.


The Special Issue sheds light on an innovative view of project outcomes, with a specific focus on sustainability, low-carbon approaches, social equity, and related factors. In this regard, Kumaraswamy et al. [9] identified potential strategies for expediting the delivery of low-carbon buildings in high-rise and high-density cities by addressing common constraints identified in recent studies. Furthermore, Bailey et al. [12] presented the findings of a critical scoping review of publications on the employment of individuals with disabilities in construction, revealing that research in this area remains nascent internationally and significant knowledge gaps exist compared to mainstream disability employment research.

Moreover, the Special Issue encompasses innovation in product management and urban-related topics, featuring research articles and review papers that contribute to our understanding of advancements in architectural products, visual aesthetics, accessibility assessment, and real estate evaluation, among others. For instance, Mridha et al. [14] investigated the connection between architectural product innovation and aesthetic preference, examining the significant role of innovation in perceiving the aesthetic preference of architectural products. Y. Li, Xie, et al. [21] developed an improved Gaussian-based two-step floating catchment area method to measure park accessibility for various travel modes in 5 min, 15 min, and 30 min scenarios. L. Wang et al. [25] developed a real estate early warning system based on an improved PSO-LSSVR model and test its effectiveness in the city of Beijing.

#### **3. Conclusions**

The papers featured in this Special Issue exemplify the various ways in which innovation can be utilized to overcome challenges, enhance efficiency, and promote sustainable development in the industry. Categorized into five broad topic groups—technology, management, outcome, product, and urban—these research papers provide comprehensive insights into the intersection of tradition and innovation in construction project management.

As the construction industry undergoes continuous evolution, embracing both tradition and innovation becomes imperative. Traditional project management principles and practices serve as a robust foundation, while innovation unlocks new possibilities and facilitates ongoing improvement. By integrating innovative technologies, materials, and methodologies into construction project management, stakeholders can boost productivity, minimize costs, mitigate environmental impacts, and deliver exceptional building outcomes for society.

**Conflicts of Interest:** The authors declare no conflict of interest.
