Construction 4.0: Cluster analysis and Research perspectives

Abstract

Construction is a sector that has been operating with lower productivity rates than other industries; historically, it has used artisanal methods, which have generated low competitiveness and efficiency, leading to considerable cost overruns and waste. For these reasons, the industrial revolution 4.0 is a movement involving large-scale changes and a transversal implementation of technology in industries' value chains. In the same way, the basic principles of Industry 4.0 can be applied to the construction sector in the term Construction 4.0, a movement that seeks to integrate new technologies with the processes of the industry, generating added value that allows for increased productivity, and close gaps with other industries. Therefore, a bibliometric analysis focused on Cluster analysis is presented, which allows knowing the research state of Construction 4.0 and its implications in developing the Construction sector. The search equation in the Web of Science (WOS) database was queried by topic (Construction 4.0), from which 225 scientific articles related to the subject were obtained. These articles are directly related to this new movement from new materials, more efficient construction processes, BIM, Digital Twin (DT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and other topics of research relevance in Construction 4.0. The main results show low research participation of Latin America in implementing technologies and methodologies offered by Construction 4.0. In contrast, developed countries, such as the United Kingdom, China, the United States, and Australia, show a greater interest in research and adopting these trends.