Automation in Construction: Advancing Sustainable Building Practices
A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Green Building".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 29 October 2026 | Viewed by 18
Special Issue Editors
Interests: digital construction technology; building information modeling (BIM); Industry 4.0; blockchain technology; digital twins; augmented reality (AR); construction sustainability; construction and demolition (C&D) waste management; alternative building technologies (ABTs); construction information management, and construction site safety
Interests: construction digitalization; sustainable construction; urban/rural sociology; construction informatics; sustainable human settlement; green building; engineering education; alternative building technologies
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: digital transformation of construction; information and communication technologies (ICT) in construction; building information modeling (BIM); Industry 4.0; green features; sustainable construction; construction material management
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The construction industry is undergoing a profound transformation driven by the integration of automation and advanced technologies into building practices. As sustainability becomes a central concern in addressing global climate challenges, construction processes must evolve beyond traditional methods to ensure resource efficiency, energy performance, and long-term resilience of the built environment. Automated construction techniques, including robotics, 3D printing, digital fabrication, and AI-driven project management, are emerging as critical tools for reducing waste, improving productivity, and ensuring quality in sustainable building delivery. These innovations offer not only economic advantages but also pathways to achieving environmental targets, reducing carbon footprints, and meeting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities). The convergence of automation and sustainability provides an exciting research frontier with significant practical and societal implications.
The aim of this Special Issue, “Automation in Construction: Advancing Sustainable Building Practices”, is to bring together cutting-edge studies that highlight the transformative role of automation in shaping a more sustainable construction sector. By foregrounding automation as both a technological driver and a sustainability enabler, this Special Issue positions itself at the nexus of engineering, environmental science, architecture, and management. Contributions are expected to demonstrate how automated tools and systems can lead to measurable improvements in construction efficiency, environmental performance, and the long-term durability of buildings and infrastructure. The Special Issue also seeks to highlight the challenges of adopting such technologies, including cost barriers, skill gaps, and the need for supportive policy frameworks.
Potential themes of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Robotics and Automated Construction Systems;
- 3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing;
- Digital Twins, BIM, and AI Integration;
- Automation for Circular Economy in Construction;
- Health, Safety, and Productivity Impacts of Automation;
- Socioeconomic and Policy Dimensions;
- Case Studies and Best Practices.
In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Contributions that blend theoretical insights with practical applications or adopt interdisciplinary perspectives are encouraged. By curating a diverse set of papers, this Special Issue aims to advance academic debate, inform policy, and provide practical solutions for industry stakeholders seeking to integrate automation into sustainable construction strategies.
We look forward to receiving your contributions.
Dr. Opeoluwa Akinradewo
Prof. Dr. Clinton Aigbavboa
Dr. Tawakalitu Bisola Odubiyi
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. Sustainability 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 2400 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
- automation in construction
- sustainable building practices
- robotics
- 3D printing
- digital twins
- BIM
- artificial intelligence
- circular economy
- automated fabrication technologies
- sustainable construction management
- advanced construction technologies
- smart and green buildings
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