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An Analysis on Promoting Prefabrication Implementation in Construction Industry towards Sustainability

Author

Listed:
  • Zezhou Wu

    (Sino-Australia Joint Research Centre in BIM and Smart Construction, College of Civil and Transportation Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518052, China)

  • Lirong Luo

    (Sino-Australia Joint Research Centre in BIM and Smart Construction, College of Civil and Transportation Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518052, China)

  • Heng Li

    (Department of Building and Real Estate, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China)

  • Ying Wang

    (Department of Building and Real Estate, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China)

  • Guoqiang Bi

    (Jinan Haiying Real Estate Development Company, Jinan 250000, China)

  • Maxwell Fordjour Antwi-Afari

    (Department of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Aston University, Birmingham B4 7ET, UK)

Abstract

As a game-changing technology with significant environmental, economic, and social benefits, prefabricated technology has attracted attention and has been increasingly adopted in the construction industry. Although multitudinous studies have investigated various aspects of prefabrication in construction, a thorough review of its current development state that synthesized environmental, economic, and social sustainability dimensions remains overdue. Therefore, this study aims to fill this research gap by constructing a systematic framework, analyzing the research status quos, and providing recommendations for future research. This study first conducted a holistic review of 768 references with NVivo. A research foci framework that represented the body of knowledge in prefabrication in construction was developed with five levels, which were advantages, hindrances, stakeholders, promotion policies, and strategy spectrum. Following the framework, the in-depth analyses from the perspectives of environmental, economic, social sustainability, technologies development, and promotion strategies were performed. The current research domains were further linked with potential research directions for promoting prefabricated construction towards sustainability. The study is of value in both offering references for policy formulation and stakeholder practice and providing recommendations for future research.

Suggested Citation

  • Zezhou Wu & Lirong Luo & Heng Li & Ying Wang & Guoqiang Bi & Maxwell Fordjour Antwi-Afari, 2021. "An Analysis on Promoting Prefabrication Implementation in Construction Industry towards Sustainability," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-21, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:21:p:11493-:d:669627
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Haiying Luan & Long Li & Shengxi Zhang, 2022. "Exploring the Impact Mechanism of Interface Management Performance of Sustainable Prefabricated Construction: The Perspective of Stakeholder Engagement," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-18, August.
    2. Jingyuan Shi & Jiaqing Sun, 2023. "Prefabrication Implementation Potential Evaluation in Rural Housing Based on Entropy Weighted TOPSIS Model: A Case Study of Counties in Chongqing, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-18, March.

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