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The Digital Transformation of the Construction Industry: Current Practices, Challenges...
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The Digital Transformation of the Construction Industry: Current Practices, Challenges and Future Directions

A special issue of Buildings (ISSN 2075-5309). This special issue belongs to the section "Construction Management, and Computers & Digitization".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 10 February 2026 | Viewed by 3162

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Hala Nassereddine

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Civil Engineering, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA
Interests: construction 4.0; digital twins; organizational change; people–process–technology frameworks
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Hyun Koo

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Engineering, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
Interests: building information modeling (BIM); clash resolution; design coordination; machine learning; building adaptation

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The construction industry is undergoing a digital transformation, reshaping how projects are conceived, managed, and executed. This transformation is not merely about adopting new technologies but involves a holistic shift across multiple dimensions, including people, processes, technologies, data, and organizational structures. At both the project and organizational levels, these elements must align to realize the full potential of digital transformation.

In this Special Issue of Buildings, titled “The Digital Transformation of the Construction Industry: Current Practices, Challenges and Future Directions”, we aim to delve into the complexities and opportunities of this transformation. Contributions that explore how digital tools and methodologies are being integrated to enhance project delivery, optimize processes, and create resilient, sustainable construction practices are invited.

Key topics include the following:

  • Digital integration and workflows across project phases and organizational structures;
  • Integration of Industry 4.0 technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), building information modeling (BIM), and digital twins;
  • Strategies for managing and utilizing data in construction projects;
  • The role of technology in transforming construction processes and outcomes;
  • Challenges and solutions in organizational changes and structural adaptations;
  • Impact of digitalization on workforce skills and management;
  • Innovations in digital project management, collaboration, and communication tools;
  • Insights into future trends and innovations driving the industry’s digital transformation.

This Special Issue seeks to provide a comprehensive understanding of how digital transformation is influencing the future of the construction industry, offering practical insights and strategies to navigate this evolving landscape.

Dr. Hala Nassereddine
Dr. Hyun Koo
Guest Editors

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. Buildings 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 2600 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.

Keywords

  • digital transformation
  • organizational change
  • technology integration
  • people, processes and technologies
  • data integration
  • challenges and opportunities

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

29 pages, 2256 KB  
Article
Developing a Value Proposition Model for Construction 4.0 Decisions: A Futures Triangle Approach
by Makram Bou Hatoum and Hala Nassereddine
Buildings 2025, 15(17), 3244; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15173244 - 8 Sep 2025
Viewed by 277
Abstract
This paper introduces the Construction 4.0 Value Proposition Score (CVPS4.0)—a structured framework that enables Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) organizations to evaluate and communicate the value proposition of Construction 4.0 decisions. Grounded in the “Futures Triangle” theory, the study draws on existing research [...] Read more.
This paper introduces the Construction 4.0 Value Proposition Score (CVPS4.0)—a structured framework that enables Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) organizations to evaluate and communicate the value proposition of Construction 4.0 decisions. Grounded in the “Futures Triangle” theory, the study draws on existing research to identify three key dimensions: past barriers constraining AEC organizations, current trends driving industry change, and future transformations toward which the sector is evolving. In total, 45 barriers, 13 trends, and four transformations were identified as the foundation of the scoring framework. The model assesses how a decision influences each dimension, producing a composite score that reflects its overall value proposition. This score incorporates three considerations: the applicability of each factor to the organization, the degree of impact the decision has on it, and the relevance of the factor to the decision. The framework was validated through proof-of-concept with a subject-matter expert, who confirmed its value in supporting strategic, data-informed decision-making. As one of the first studies to evaluate the value proposition of Construction 4.0, this research offers both a practical decision-support tool and a consolidated reference on the forces shaping organizational change. CVPS4.0 provides AEC organizations with a proactive means to guide decisions, mitigate risks, and enhance long-term value creation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Digital Transformation of the Construction Industry: Current Practices, Challenges and Future Directions)
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22 pages, 19940 KB  
Article
Augmented Reality in Review Processes for Building Authorities: A Case Study in Vienna
by Alexander Gerger, Harald Urban, Konstantin Höbart, Gabriel Pelikan and Christian Schranz
Buildings 2025, 15(17), 3228; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15173228 - 8 Sep 2025
Viewed by 502
Abstract
The digital transformation of the construction industry is still lagging due to its incomplete implementation throughout the entire building lifecycle. One stakeholder in particular has been largely overlooked thus far: public administration. This study explores the potential integration of augmented reality (AR) into [...] Read more.
The digital transformation of the construction industry is still lagging due to its incomplete implementation throughout the entire building lifecycle. One stakeholder in particular has been largely overlooked thus far: public administration. This study explores the potential integration of augmented reality (AR) into the processes of building authorities, with a particular focus on the review part of the permissions process, taking the City of Vienna as an example. As part of the EU-funded BRISE-Vienna project, an AR platform was developed and tested and an AR application was designed to enhance the transparency, stakeholder communication, and efficiency throughout the process. This study compares the proposed AR-based review process with the traditional plan-based approach, assessing both hard and soft factors. To this end, the durations of the individual process steps were measured, with a particular focus on the time spent by the officers (as a hard factor). In addition, qualitative surveys were conducted to gather the subjective impressions of the test participants (as soft factors). The key findings were a reduction in the officers’ workloads and an improvement in spatial understanding. While the overall review time remained similar, the use of AR reduced officers’ workload by over 40%. Additionally, the test participants stated that AR improved their spatial understanding and alleviated the time pressure within the process. This case study demonstrates the potential of AR in the permissions process and could serve as a model for other cities and countries. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Digital Transformation of the Construction Industry: Current Practices, Challenges and Future Directions)
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14 pages, 1591 KB  
Article
Benefits and Challenges of Early Electrical Contractors’ Involvement in Construction Projects
by Hyun Jeong Koo and Frank Skvarce
Buildings 2025, 15(4), 637; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15040637 - 19 Feb 2025
Viewed by 1389
Abstract
The construction industry is currently facing several challenges, such as increased complexity, rapid technological development, and early retirements of experts. The involvement of knowledgeable contractors during early design will provide significant benefits, resulting in good-quality design and enhanced construction performance, particularly in specialized [...] Read more.
The construction industry is currently facing several challenges, such as increased complexity, rapid technological development, and early retirements of experts. The involvement of knowledgeable contractors during early design will provide significant benefits, resulting in good-quality design and enhanced construction performance, particularly in specialized areas like electrical disciplines. In this study, the authors conducted a survey with 82 industry experts to identify the benefits, barriers, and key selection criteria of Early Electrical Contractor Involvement (EECI) in construction projects. The survey results indicate that the benefits of EECI outweigh the barriers. Cost savings emerged as the most significant benefit of EECI for most participants, while the requirement for a high level of cooperation and transparency was identified as the most challenging barrier. This study also revealed the discrepancies in the assessment of benefits and barriers of EECI based on the participant’s role. Additionally, collaboration and teamwork were identified as essential factors for the successful implementation of EECI. However, companies remain reluctant to change contracting methods, as they tend to adhere to familiar practices despite the potential advantages of EECI. This study validates the importance and effectiveness of EECI with regard to construction projects and contributes to the existing body of knowledge in early contractor involvement, electrical subcontracting, and design quality improvement. Furthermore, the outcome of this study provides industry practitioners with a better understanding of EECI and can also be used for education purposes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Digital Transformation of the Construction Industry: Current Practices, Challenges and Future Directions)
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