Oke, A; Atofarati, J and Bello, S (2022) Awareness of 3D printing for sustainable construction in an emerging economy. Construction Economics and Building, 22(2), pp. 52-68. ISSN 2204-9029
Abstract
3D printing has been popular in the manufacturing industry as a means of automating processes, speeding up production, and reducing waste. It is frequently seen as a relatively new technology, even though it has been in use for more than three decades. This article aims to analyse 3D printing awareness in an emerging economy towards sustainability in the construction industry. A survey research design was used to obtain primary data from the respondents using structured questionnaires. The sample frame for the research survey comprises professionals in construction and consultancy firms such as architects, quantity surveyors, projects managers, and engineers. Mean item score, standard deviation, and factor analysis were used to analyse the data. The findings from this study show that majority of the professionals acknowledged that they were aware of the existence of 3D printing, but most of them attested that they had not utilized this technology before the survey. The study reveals that the professionals in the construction industry of the emerging economy have low awareness of 3D printing technology, therefore its practices in the construction industry of the study area are significantly low. More awareness of 3D printing technology should be raised by bodies shouldered with management and regulation of the construction industry to increase professionals' awareness and enlighten them on the benefits of adopting the technology towards sustainable construction.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | 3D printing; construction 4.0; construction industry; digital construction; sustainable construction. |
| Index terms: | construction industry, consultancy, regulation, architect, questionnaire, factor analysis, engineer, research design, manufacturing industry, deviation, survey, emerging economy, manager, construction 4.0, quantity surveying, digital construction, sustainable construction, new technology, 3D printing |
| Subjects: | practitioner, digital engineering, manufacturing, organization, research design and methodology, data collection methods, profession, financial and cost management, innovation and technology management, sustainable construction, economic development, information systems, political science, statistical analysis, industry analysis |
| Topics: | Research Practice, Engineering Principles, Cost Management, Sustainability, Governance, Roles and Professions, International Construction, Digital Applications, Organizational Design |
| 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