Pittri, H; Agyekum, K; Salgin, B; Dompey, A M A; Gasue, R and Anderson, S A (2025) The fourth industrial revolution technologies and the construction industry in Ghana. Construction Economics and Building, 25(3-4), pp. 231-253. ISSN 2204-9029
Abstract
Given the Ghanaian construction industry's continued reliance on conventional practices, understanding its readiness for digital transformation is essential to enhance productivity, efficiency, and competitiveness. This study investigates the level of awareness and extent of utilization of Industry 4.0 technologies within the Ghanaian construction industry (GCI). A quantitative approach was adopted using a structured questionnaire administered to 100 built environment professionals through convenience and snowball sampling. Descriptive and inferential statistical tools, including one-sample t-tests, independent samples t-tests, and analysis of variance (ANOVA), were used to analyze the data. The results revealed low overall awareness and utilization of Industry 4.0 technologies across the GCI. Drone technology showed the highest awareness and usage, while technologies such as 3D printing, artificial intelligence, and big data analytics recorded the lowest. Significant differences were observed in utilization based on respondents' awareness, profession, and years of experience. This study fills a critical gap by providing baseline data necessary for understanding the sector's digital maturity. The findings offer valuable insights for policymakers, industry stakeholders, and educators aiming to promote digital innovation. The study concludes that enhancing awareness through training, curriculum reforms, and supportive policies is vital for driving the digital transformation of the GCI.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | artificial intelligence; building information modeling; construction 4.0; industry 4.0 technologies; internet of things |
| Index terms: | artificial intelligence, construction industry, internet, built environment, competitiveness, fourth industrial revolution, sampling, profession, transformation, Ghana, productivity, variance, industry 4.0, efficiency, construction 4.0, building information modelling, questionnaire, big data, drone, 3D printing |
| Subjects: | institututions, manufacturing, digital engineering, market analysis, Geography, automation and robotics, technology adoption, artificial intelligence, computing systems, business, data collection methods, information systems, industry analysis, infrastructure and transport systems, measurement and scaling, performance management, management |
| Topics: | Roles and Professions, Business Strategy, Research Practice, Digital Applications, Urban Studies, Geographical Context, Quality Management |
| 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