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Digital Transformation in the Construction Industry: Latest Advances and Prospects
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Digital Transformation in the Construction Industry: Latest Advances and Prospects

A special issue of Buildings (ISSN 2075-5309). This special issue belongs to the section "Construction Management, and Computers & Digitization".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 April 2025 | Viewed by 34191

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Barry Gledson

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Architecture and Built Environment, University of Northumbria, Newcastle NE1 8ST, UK
Interests: building information modeling; construction project management; construction planning; digital construction; (construction) innovation diffusion
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Sambo Lyson Zulu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Built Environment, Engineering, and Computing, Leeds Beckett University, Northern Terrace, City Campus, Leeds LS2 8AG, UK
Interests: management of projects and organisations in the construction industry; implications of the interlinked challenges of digitalisation and sustainability on the construction industry, businesses, and projects
Dr. Ali M. Saad

E-Mail
Guest Editor
School of Built Environment, Engineering and Computing, Leeds Beckett University, Northern Terrace, City Campus, Leeds LS2 8AG, UK
Interests: building information modelling (BIM); digitalisation in construction; modern methods of construction (MMC); innovation-adoption, organisational change; sociology in construction; psychology of managing change; decision-making; construction policies

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The main aim of this Special Issue is to stimulate theoretically and empirically informed discussions regarding the latest digital transformation advances and prospects in the construction sector. Specifically, the Special Issue calls for papers that are methodologically robust, with a strong theoretical grounding, containing either theoretical contributions or refinement, or the development and application of new theories relevant to this context. Whilst papers could consider or assess the impact of digitalization on project-, firm- or sector-level performance, work that specifically considers the role of supplier-level firms and how these are influenced or are impacted upon by digital transformations is also particularly encouraged. This Special Issue welcomes discussions of the latest digital innovations in construction and evaluations of their potential for improving construction project delivery or managerial practice.  In addition, submissions for this Special Issue are encouraged to explore any undesirable or indirect/unanticipated consequences of the diffusion of digital innovations in the context of construction. Finally, papers that explore digital approaches to leadership and teamworking at the project/firm level, organizational learning being digitally facilitated at the firm level and sector-level means of improving sustainability through digital means are also welcomed.

Dr. Barry Gledson
Prof. Dr. Sambo Lyson Zulu
Dr. Ali M. Saad
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Buildings is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • artificial intelligence
  • blockchain and distributed ledger technology
  • data and intelligent control
  • diffusion
  • digital leadership and teamwork
  • digital innovations in construction
  • digital twin
  • impact of digital technologies on construction processes
  • innovation
  • product (3D) and process (4D, etc.) Modeling
  • robotics in construction
  • theory

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

37 pages, 8950 KiB  
Article
Blockchain Technology Adoption by Critical Stakeholders in Prefabricated Construction Supply Chain Based on Evolutionary Game and System Dynamics
by Rui Zhou, Jin Wang and Dongli Zhu
Buildings 2024, 14(9), 3034; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14093034 - 23 Sep 2024
Viewed by 1142
Abstract
Blockchain technology (BT) is a promising solution to address information asymmetry and trust issues in the prefabricated construction supply chain (PCSC). However, its practical application in PCSC remains limited under the influence of stakeholders’ adoption strategies. While previous studies have analyzed drivers and [...] Read more.
Blockchain technology (BT) is a promising solution to address information asymmetry and trust issues in the prefabricated construction supply chain (PCSC). However, its practical application in PCSC remains limited under the influence of stakeholders’ adoption strategies. While previous studies have analyzed drivers and barriers to BT adoption, they often take a static view, neglecting the long-term dynamic decision-making interactions between stakeholders. This study addresses this gap by examining the interests of owners, general contractors, and subcontractors, and by developing a tripartite evolutionary game model to analyze the interaction mechanism of the strategy of adopting BT in PCSC. Additionally, a system dynamics simulation validates the evolution of stabilization strategies and examines the impact of key parameters. The results indicate that successful BT adoption requires technology maturity to surpass a threshold between 0.5 and 0.7, along with a fair revenue and cost-sharing coefficient between general contractors and subcontractors, ranging from 0.3 to 0.5 at the lower limit and 0.7 to 0.9 at the upper limit. Notably, general contractors play a pivotal role in driving BT adoption, acting as potential leaders. Furthermore, appropriate incentives, default compensation, and government subsidies can promote optimal adoption strategies, although overly high incentives may reduce owners’ willingness to mandate BT adoption. This study provides practical insights and policy recommendations for critical stakeholders to facilitate the widespread adoption of BT in PCSC. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Digital Transformation in the Construction Industry: Latest Advances and Prospects)
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20 pages, 6565 KiB  
Article
Development of a Cloud-Based Building Information Modeling Design Configurator to Auto-Link Material Catalogs with Code-Compliant Designs of Residential Buildings
by Songyue Wang and Qian Chen
Buildings 2024, 14(7), 2084; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14072084 - 8 Jul 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 931
Abstract
Configurators have recently emerged as essential tools in the construction industry to enable builders to offer a wide range of customizable designs. Due to significant challenges in information integration between construction suppliers and clients, existing configurator systems often lack crucial usability and supply [...] Read more.
Configurators have recently emerged as essential tools in the construction industry to enable builders to offer a wide range of customizable designs. Due to significant challenges in information integration between construction suppliers and clients, existing configurator systems often lack crucial usability and supply chain information, presenting barriers to wider adoption among residential communities, especially in single-family residence development that requires a high degree of customization. To address this challenge in the design and construction supply chain, this study presents a lightweight cloud-based modular home configuration methodology as a robust unified platform solution to integrate parametric design options with a certified kit-of-parts library to meet local design codes. The configurator prototype developed under this framework seamlessly integrates essential design and supply chain information by leveraging (1) a generative layout design with pre-approved blueprints, (2) a knowledge-based recommender system to link the design process with certified material catalogs, and (3) a user-friendly web interface to present possible designs. The implementation of a single-family housing design adhering to the building codes in the British Columbia Province of Canada illustrates the benefits of the proposed configurator functionalities and efficient supplier data integration. Lightweight and automated, the proposed configurator has substantial potential to be scaled and adopted across different communities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Digital Transformation in the Construction Industry: Latest Advances and Prospects)
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22 pages, 3566 KiB  
Article
Applying Building Information Modelling (BIM) Technology in Pre-Tender Cost Estimation of Construction Projects: A Case Study in Iran
by Amirreza Rashidi, Daniel W. M. Chan, Mehdi Ravanshadnia, Hadi Sarvari and Abbas Tajaddini
Buildings 2024, 14(5), 1260; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14051260 - 30 Apr 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1828
Abstract
The pre-tender cost estimation serves as the foundation for determining the project cost in the early stages and is crucial for all parties involved in the tendering process. It is expected to be highly accurate. However, industry surveys have advocated that in the [...] Read more.
The pre-tender cost estimation serves as the foundation for determining the project cost in the early stages and is crucial for all parties involved in the tendering process. It is expected to be highly accurate. However, industry surveys have advocated that in the Iranian construction industry, the pre-tender estimated costs of construction projects are not sufficiently accurate during the bidding stage. Building information modelling (BIM) technology is a modern digital tool deployed in the construction industry that has seen substantial growth of application. It employs useful tools in different sectors and has extended its involvement in various stages of the project lifecycle, including feasibility studies, planning, design, construction, and operation and maintenance. This study examines and assesses the status of BIM development in Iran for its applicability in the pre-tender cost estimating process in construction projects. The findings of this study indicate that while there is a limited number of Iranian building projects’ BIM models that possess the required quality and capabilities for BIM-based cost estimation, the results obtained are more precise when compared to existing manual methods. Additionally, utilising BIM-based cost estimation significantly reduces the time required for this process by enhancing the speed of cost estimation operations. An innovative evaluation framework for assessing the quality and functionalities of BIM models is presented, which improves the accuracy of cost estimation before the bidding process in Iran’s construction industry. The research findings demonstrate the enhanced accuracy and effectiveness of BIM as compared to conventional approaches. It also suggests the incorporation of AI technology for model evaluation, which has the potential to become an established global industry standard. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Digital Transformation in the Construction Industry: Latest Advances and Prospects)
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20 pages, 4214 KiB  
Article
Reporting on the Development of a Web-Based Prototype Dashboard for Construction Design Managers, Achieved through Design Science Research Methodology (DSRM)
by Barry Gledson, Kay Rogage, Anna Thompson and Hazel Ponton
Buildings 2024, 14(2), 335; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14020335 - 25 Jan 2024
Viewed by 2145
Abstract
Construction Design Management (DM) involves the coordination of design processes and activities to ensure quality project design, yet it involves many challenges. This study reports on a collaborative Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) project with a Case Study Organization (CSO) that tackled several issues [...] Read more.
Construction Design Management (DM) involves the coordination of design processes and activities to ensure quality project design, yet it involves many challenges. This study reports on a collaborative Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) project with a Case Study Organization (CSO) that tackled several issues faced by construction design managers. Employing a design science research methodology (DSRM), qualitative analysis of semi-structured interviews with purposefully identified design managers uncovered real-world concerns around design co-ordination and performance monitoring. To address these concerns, a web-based design management prototype dashboard was developed using typical project data to aid in the management of design coordination, task prioritization, and reporting functionalities. The web-based Design Management prototype dashboard enhances design management productivity in construction firms by monitoring design production, assessing designer performance trends, and focusing on Technical Queries (TQs) and Requests for Information (RFIs). Digitalizing selected design management processes improves efficiency and productivity. The visual reporting of the dashboard enables design production monitoring at project and portfolio levels, assesses trends in designer performance, and maintains focus on TQs and RFIs. Demonstrating how web-based Design Management dashboards can enhance productivity, this study emphasizes practical solutions derived from employing a design science research methodology. The development and application of the web-based dashboard contribute to the growing evidence that employing design science research methodology in construction can yield tangible solutions to address real-world construction concerns. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Digital Transformation in the Construction Industry: Latest Advances and Prospects)
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29 pages, 2625 KiB  
Article
Opportunities and Challenges of Generative AI in Construction Industry: Focusing on Adoption of Text-Based Models
by Prashnna Ghimire, Kyungki Kim and Manoj Acharya
Buildings 2024, 14(1), 220; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings14010220 - 14 Jan 2024
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 17455
Abstract
In the last decade, despite rapid advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) transforming many industry practices, construction largely lags in adoption. Recently, the emergence and rapid adoption of advanced large language models (LLMs) like OpenAI’s GPT, Google’s PaLM, and Meta’s Llama have shown great [...] Read more.
In the last decade, despite rapid advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) transforming many industry practices, construction largely lags in adoption. Recently, the emergence and rapid adoption of advanced large language models (LLMs) like OpenAI’s GPT, Google’s PaLM, and Meta’s Llama have shown great potential and sparked considerable global interest. However, the current surge lacks a study investigating the opportunities and challenges of implementing Generative AI (GenAI) in the construction sector, creating a critical knowledge gap for researchers and practitioners. This underlines the necessity to explore the prospects and complexities of GenAI integration. Bridging this gap is fundamental to optimizing GenAI’s early stage adoption within the construction sector. Given GenAI’s unprecedented capabilities to generate human-like content based on learning from existing content, we reflect on two guiding questions: What will the future bring for GenAI in the construction industry? What are the potential opportunities and challenges in implementing GenAI in the construction industry? This study delves into reflected perception in literature, analyzes the industry perception using programming-based word cloud and frequency analysis, and integrates authors’ opinions to answer these questions. This paper recommends a conceptual GenAI implementation framework, provides practical recommendations, summarizes future research questions, and builds foundational literature to foster subsequent research expansion in GenAI within the construction and its allied architecture and engineering domains. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Digital Transformation in the Construction Industry: Latest Advances and Prospects)
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18 pages, 31976 KiB  
Article
Exploringthe Potential of Artificial Intelligence as a Tool for Architectural Design: A Perception Study Using Gaudí’sWorks
by Zhihui Zhang, Josep M. Fort and Lluis Giménez Mateu
Buildings 2023, 13(7), 1863; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13071863 - 22 Jul 2023
Cited by 17 | Viewed by 9346
Abstract
This study undertakes a comprehensive investigation into the comparison of designs between the acclaimed architect Antoni Gaudí and those produced by an artificial intelligence (AI) system. We evaluated the designs using five main metrics: Authenticity, Attractiveness, Creativity, Harmony, and overall Preference. The findings [...] Read more.
This study undertakes a comprehensive investigation into the comparison of designs between the acclaimed architect Antoni Gaudí and those produced by an artificial intelligence (AI) system. We evaluated the designs using five main metrics: Authenticity, Attractiveness, Creativity, Harmony, and overall Preference. The findings underline the superiority of Gaudí’s designs in terms of Authenticity and Harmony, testifying to the unique aesthetic appeal of human-created designs. On the other hand, AI-generated designs demonstrate significant potential, exhibiting competitive results in the categories of Attractiveness and Creativity. In some cases, they even surpass Gaudí’s designs in terms of overall Preference. However, it is clear that AI faces challenges in replicating the distinctive aspects of human design styles, pointing to the innate subjectivity inherent to design evaluations. These findings shed light on the role AI could play as a tool in architectural design, offering diverse design solutions and driving innovation. Despite this, the study also emphasizes the difficulties AI faces in capturing the unique facets of human design styles and the intrinsic subjectivity in design evaluations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Digital Transformation in the Construction Industry: Latest Advances and Prospects)
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