Construction 4.0 adoption: barriers, mitigation strategies and pathways to sustainable digital transformation
Pallavi Dhamak, Bhaveshkumar Nandanram Pasi, Santosh RanePurpose
Construction 4.0 integrates advanced digital technologies into the construction sector to enhance efficiency, safety and sustainability. The construction sector faces persistent challenges in adopting advanced digital technologies, making it necessary to explore structured frameworks for adoption and sustainability, and Degree of Acceptability (DoA) assessment. This study aims to identify the barriers to adopting Construction 4.0 and explore strategies based on literature and expert input. These strategies are connected to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), focusing on technology and safety and ranked by their feasibility and impact to offer practical recommendations.
Design/methodology/approach
This research uses a mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative and quantitative methodologies through three interrelated phases: fuzzy decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL), strategy selection and mathematical modeling. Informed by a systematic literature review and expert insights, the study begins with identifying barriers to Construction 4.0 adoption through comprehensive analysis and discussions with industry professionals. The study engaged 14 experts for DEMATEL analysis and five managers for the DoA assessment. A direct relation fuzzy matrix (DRM) is developed to analyze interdependencies among these barriers. Strategies addressing these barriers are then mapped to SDGs, refined through expert feedback and prioritized based on feasibility and impact. The final phase involves mathematical modeling to evaluate the degree of acceptability of these strategies, enabling practical decision-making for industry managers. This integrated framework combines expert judgment, fuzzy logic and strategic mapping to provide actionable solutions for overcoming constraints in Construction 4.0 adoption.
Findings
The research identifies “Lack of Standards and Regulations” as the most significant barrier to adopting Construction 4.0 technologies. From a sustainability perspective, “Establishing a Vision for Digital Integration ” emerged as the most critical strategy for overcoming these barriers.
Research limitations/implications
This research is limited to the barriers and strategies explored in the Indian construction industry. Future studies may expand the scope to other regions and include additional data sets to improve generalizability.
Practical implications
The findings provide actionable insights for construction managers, enabling them to prioritize and implement strategies that address skill gaps, promote technological integration and ensure safety compliance for the smooth adoption of Construction 4.0.
Originality/value
This research contributes to the growing knowledge of Construction 4.0 by identifying and ranking critical barriers and proposing a decision-making framework that emphasizes sustainability, collaboration and skill development. The novelty of this study lies in introducing the DoA matrix, which extends existing prioritization tools in sustainability research by integrating expert consensus with interdependency analysis.