Digital Technology in Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) Industry: Research Trends and Practical Status toward Construction 4.0

Abstract

Construction 4.0 represents the exploration of new technologies in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry. The development of digital technologies is rapid and the adoption of them significantly impacts construction projects, for example, leading to a reduction in change orders, better decision making, and improvements in quality of work. However, stakeholders may find it challenging to determine the promising technologies within the context of the AEC industry. This paper presents an exploratory study to investigate the potentially applicable technologies and their research and practice trends in the AEC industry. A scoping review was the method utilized to perform a quantitative analysis of over five thousand journals papers published from 2010 onward based on two academic databases (Scopus and CNKI). The results present the top 10 construction 4.0 technologies, including building information modelling (BIM), artificial intelligence (AI), 3D printing, machine learning, internet of things (IoT), geographic information systems (GIS), virtual reality (VR), big data, robotics, and augmented reality (AR). Subsequently, 145 industry professionals were invited to select the most used construction 4.0 technologies in their projects via a questionnaire survey. Mobile devices, BIM, and Digital signature are mostly adopted on-site. The findings of this study can enhance the awareness of stakeholders toward construction 4.0 technologies and may help them make better decisions in selecting and implementing the promising technologies.