Klarin, A and Xiao, Q (2024) Automation in architecture, engineering and construction: A scientometric analysis and implications for management. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 31(8), pp. 3308-3334. ISSN 0969-9988
Abstract
Purpose: Many economic, political and socio-cultural events in the 2020s have been strong headwinds for architecture, engineering and construction (AEC). Nevertheless, technological advancements (e.g. artificial intelligence (AI), big data and robotics) provide promising avenues for the development of AEC. This study aims to map the state of the literature on automation in AEC and thereby be of value not only to those researching automation and its composition of a variety of distinct technological and system classes within AEC, but also to practitioners and policymakers in shaping the future of AEC. Design/methodology/approach: This review adopts scientometric methods, which have been effective in the research of large intra and interdisciplinary domains in the past decades. The full dataset consists of 1,871 articles on automation in AEC. Findings: This overarching scientometric review offers three interdisciplinary streams of research: technological frontiers, project monitoring and applied research in AEC. To support the scientometric analysis, the authors offer a critical integrative review of the literature to proffer a multilevel, multistage framework of automation in AEC, which demonstrates an abundance of technological paradigm discussions and the inherent need for a holistic managerial approach to automation in AEC. Originality/value: The authors underline employee well-being, business sustainability and social growth outcomes of automation and provide several managerial implications, such as the strategic management approach, ethical management view and human resource management perspective. In doing so, the authors seek to respond to the Sustainable Development Goals proposed by the United Nations as this becomes more prevalent for the industry and all levels of society in general.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | artificial intelligence; automation; bibliometrics; construction engineering and management; managerial implications; scientometrics; systematic literature review |
| Index terms: | bibliometrics, systematic literature review, automation, society, stream, practitioner, paradigm, scientometrics, big data, robotics, United Nations, well-being, human resource management, strategic management, artificial intelligence, project monitoring, construction engineering, dataset, methodology, sustainable development goal |
| Subjects: | institutional frameworks, sustainable design, communities and social development, research evaluation and metrics, mental health and wellbeing, practitioner, water management, control systems, education and knowledge transfer, artificial intelligence, management, information systems, data management, engineering methods, research methods, automation and robotics |
| Topics: | Project Management, Research Practice, Human Resources, Digital Applications, Roles and Professions, Sustainability, Health and Safety, Stakeholder Management, Engineering Principles, Business Strategy, Information Management, Governance |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here