Implementation of construction 4.0 technologies in the Turkish construction industry

Abstract

The construction industry is one of the world’s precursors in labor force development and economic engagement. However, it confronts with several challenges. The digital revolution might provide some solutions to the encountered problems in the construction industry, which is traditionally slow to adopt the efficiency afforded by information technologies. There are numerous studies focused on the challenges faced by the construction industry. However, there need to be more studies investigating the level of construction professionals’ recognition level of new technologies and their expectations regarding the problem-solving capabilities of Construction 4.0 technologies. This study aims to fill this gap by summarizing Construction 4.0 technologies, encountered problems in the construction industry, and the expected benefits from these technologies while comparing the perceptions of different groups of respondents’ companies. Based on a comprehensive literature review, 13 Construction 4.0 technologies, 11 main problems encountered in construction projects, and 17 expected benefits from Construction 4.0 technologies were identified, and a questionnaire was developed. The questionnaire data obtained from 188 Turkish construction professionals were analyzed using a mean score analysis. According to the study’s findings, medium/large size companies rated the recognition level of Construction 4.0 technologies and expected benefits of these technologies higher than micro/small firms, while they gave lower ratings for the main problems in construction projects. Additionally, construction firms working mainly on international projects gave higher ratings for Construction 4.0 technologies and main problems, while national and international enterprises had similar expectations for Construction 4.0’s benefits. Likewise, enterprises with IT employees ranked Construction 4.0 technologies and the main problems in construction projects higher than those without IT staff, and the expected benefits of Construction 4.0 technologies were very similar. The findings of this study may guide construction professionals in deciding which innovations to support and encourage academics to create new technologies regarding real-world concerns.