Advances in Digital Technologies Used in Architecture/Building Engineering and Construction Management

Dear Colleagues,

Technology has been identified as an effective means of enhancing sustainability in construction practices. Some of these technologies are transforming the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry by reducing costs, improving quality, enhancing efficiency, and ensuring that standards are met. Integrated strategies focus on the purpose of buildings, the specializations involved, and the technologies available. Comprehensive research is required to discover the underlying concepts and technologies involved in the design process.

Emphasizing advanced design practices is crucial to addressing modern challenges and achieving innovative and functional architectural solutions. Therefore, diverse aspects of technical applications enable us to understand aesthetically pleasing structures and functional, sustainable, and well-managed strategies. Therefore, this Special Issue, entitled “Advances in Digital Technologies Used in Architecture/Building Engineering and Construction Management,” welcomes research papers that reflect the ongoing efforts to harness advanced technologies and innovative approaches to address the challenges and opportunities associated with AEC management:

• The development of theoretical models incorporating time and cost data into BIM to improve project scheduling and budgeting.
• The modeling of building management and maintenance integrating BIM with real-time data from IoT devices.
• Optimized solutions regarding Net-Zero Energy Buildings using Green Building Technologies.
• Identifying and applying bio-composites and recycled materials in construction with lower environmental impact.
• Conduction of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to compare and analyze building materials from their life cycle perspective.
• Measurement of enhancing efficiency using robotics and automation in modular and prefabricated construction.
• Exploring new innovative materials for 3D printing that are more durable and sustainable in construction.
• Developing advanced energy management systems for real-time monitoring and optimizing energy use.
• Implementing smart sensors and controls for better indoor air quality, lighting, and temperature regulation.
• Developing robots for specific and complex construction tasks in adverse conditions.
• Applicability of using drones for automated site inspection, surveys, and progress monitoring.
• Design visualization for architectural designs using Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR).
• Creating a safe working environment with AR headsets to overlay construction plans onto the physical site for accuracy.
• Developing self-healing materials that can repair themselves, reduce maintenance costs, and extend the lifespan of structures.
• Design optimization employing Machine Learning (ML) algorithms based on variable design criteria.
• Development of a predictive maintenance schedule using Artificial Intelligence (AI) at recurrence intervals, reducing downtime and repair costs.
• Improving operational efficiency using digital twins to monitor and optimize building performance.
• Analyzing safety data and predicting the potential hazards on construction sites using AI.
• Designing climate-resilient buildings to withstand extreme weather events and changing climate conditions.
• Improving urban living conditions and efficiency by implementing IoT and smart technologies for smart city infrastructure.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Quddus Tushar
Guest Editor

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. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly 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 2400 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.

• building information modeling (BIM)
• life cycle assessment (LCA)
• virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR)
• artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML)
• 3D printing
• digital twins