Enhanced Sustainable Construction Management through Industry 4.0 Technologies

Dear Colleagues,

Sustainable construction has become a fundamental area of concern in the global construction industry. Significant efforts have been made to advance the sustainability of construction in both academic and practical spheres. The construction supply chain has made wide-ranging efforts to achieve sustainable construction. These include minimizing the industry's environmental impact by using renewable and recyclable resources, reducing energy consumption and waste generation, and fostering the creation of healthy, eco-friendly environments.

Furthermore, there has been substantial scholarly research and practical implementation in the realm of construction management, including in areas such as life-cycle assessment, lean construction, sustainable supply chain management, sustainable construction techniques, and the efficient management of construction sites. Recent developments in sustainable construction management are expanding to include a selection of sustainable delivery methods, pre-construction strategies for sustainability, and advanced computational design and engineering techniques to enhance sustainability. Additionally, off-site construction has become an area of particular focus.

The integration of emerging technologies, such as construction automation, artificial intelligence (AI), big data analytics, Building Information Modeling (BIM), Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality (AR/VR), robotics, and smart sensing, has further catalyzed the progress of sustainable construction management. AI and big data, for instance, are leveraged to analyze vast amounts of construction data for a deeper understanding of how to optimize resource usage and reduce waste. BIM facilitates the digital representation of construction projects, allowing for better planning and resource allocation. AR/VR and robotics are employed in various construction tasks to improve precision and efficiency. Smart sensing technologies are used for the real-time monitoring of construction processes, enabling prompt adjustments to enhance sustainability.

In addition to these advancements, it is worth noting that another Special Issue on sustainable construction management and computer simulation has been launched to provide a dedicated platform for disseminating cutting-edge research and innovations in this field. This Special Issue instead aims at fostering collaboration among researchers, practitioners, and industry experts, and offers an opportunity to showcase the latest advancements in sustainable construction and its management. This initiative will further accelerate the progress of sustainable construction practices, leading to more environmentally friendly and efficient construction processes.

I look forward to receiving your contributions. 

Prof. Dr. JeongWook Son
Guest Editor

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• sustainable construction
• construction management
• lean construction
• off-site construction
• computational research methods
• construction automation
• artificial intelligence
• big data
• BIM
• AR/VR
• robotics
• smart sensing