Smart Construction in Infrastructure Project Development

A special issue of Infrastructures (ISSN 2412-3811). This special issue belongs to the section "Smart Infrastructures".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 1 January 2025 | Viewed by 7303

Special Issue Editors


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Engineering, Design and Built Environment, Western Sydney University, Penrith, Australia
Interests: construction health and safety; project finance; public–private partnership; smart construction; sustainability
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Engineering, Design and Built Environment, Western Sydney University, Penrith, Australia
Interests: alliancing; Artificial Intelligence (AI); IT in construction; infrastructure procurement; public–private partnership; risk management; social and economical sustainability
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Engineering Design and Built Environment, Western Sydney University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
Interests: project finance; financial risk management; public–private partnership; circular economy; climate change and sustainability
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Smart construction has been touted as an innovative approach towards the attainment of a sustainable development agenda of every country in building and operating public infrastructure projects such as light rails, hospitals, schools, airports, and recreational centres, among others. Smart construction uses innovative and data-driven technologies such as sensors, digital twins, and artificial intelligence in this era of the fourth Industrial Revolution to improve operational efficiency, reduce delays and costs, and ensure timely completion of these infrastructure projects. Smart construction also helps to modernize existing infrastructures and make them more resilient to different environmental conditions. By employing smart technological tools, data, and advanced analytics, infrastructure projects can be monitored in real time to streamline efficiencies in processes and site work. This allows project managers to make well-informed decisions quickly and accurately. Additionally, the use of smart technologies provides visibility into the entire lifecycle of infrastructure projects, from design to construction, maintenance, and operation. By understanding how each stage is connected and how it affects the overall infrastructure, smart construction enables stakeholders to make more informed decisions and stay on top of project progress. The existing literature has made little inroads in the development of smart construction technologies for public infrastructure projects. The limited applicability of high-priority technologies in public infrastructure development, especially in the global south, calls for comprehensive research and practical solutions to transition existing public infrastructure projects to be more resilient and technology-driven infrastructures. In this Special Issue, we ask for the submission of high-quality and original research manuscripts, which are focused on the application of smart construction technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Building Information Modeling (BIM), Internet of Things (IoT), Robotics, Digital twins, Drones and Advanced Imaging, Cloud-Based Collaboration, Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR), and 5G Technology in the understanding, modelling, and implementation of infrastructure project development.

Dr. Robert Osei-Kyei
Dr. Xiaohua Jin
Dr. Isaac Akomea-Frimpong
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Infrastructures is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • infrastructure development
  • artificial intelligence and machine learning
  • smart construction
  • Building Information Modeling (BIM)
  • Internet of Things (IoT)
  • digital twins
  • robotics
  • drones and advanced imaging
  • cloud-based collaboration
  • Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR)
  • 5G technology
  • PPP infrastructure projects

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

23 pages, 2982 KiB  
Article
A Review of Global Efforts in BIM Adoption for Road Infrastructure
by Otto Araujo Nielsen, Giuseppe Miceli, Jr., Altair dos Santos Ferreira Filho and Paulo César Pellanda
Infrastructures 2024, 9(8), 126; https://doi.org/10.3390/infrastructures9080126 - 1 Aug 2024
Viewed by 2306
Abstract
This review article examines global initiatives in the adoption of building information modeling (BIM) for road infrastructure. It begins with an overview of the distinctions between BIM applications for buildings and infrastructure projects. This study evaluates noteworthy BIM publications (NBPs) from various countries [...] Read more.
This review article examines global initiatives in the adoption of building information modeling (BIM) for road infrastructure. It begins with an overview of the distinctions between BIM applications for buildings and infrastructure projects. This study evaluates noteworthy BIM publications (NBPs) from various countries and organizations to understand BIM’s transformative impact on roadway infrastructure projects. It analyzes the evolution of these publications, compares academic output with NBP, identifies the stages of BIM maturity, and evaluates adherence to ISO 19650 standards. Through this analysis, the article presents current global and regional scenarios, providing a comprehensive overview of the current state and future prospects of BIM implementation in the road infrastructure sector. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smart Construction in Infrastructure Project Development)
Show Figures

Figure 1

23 pages, 351 KiB  
Article
Fuzzy Analysis of Financial Risk Management Strategies for Sustainable Public–Private Partnership Infrastructure Projects in Ghana
by Isaac Akomea-Frimpong, Xiaohua Jin and Robert Osei-Kyei
Infrastructures 2024, 9(4), 76; https://doi.org/10.3390/infrastructures9040076 - 18 Apr 2024
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2687
Abstract
Public–private partnership (PPP) is a prominent tool for sustainable infrastructure development. However, the positive contributions of PPPs toward the attainment of sustainable, climate resilience and zero-carbon infrastructure projects are hampered by poor financial risk management. This problem is more prevalent in developing countries [...] Read more.
Public–private partnership (PPP) is a prominent tool for sustainable infrastructure development. However, the positive contributions of PPPs toward the attainment of sustainable, climate resilience and zero-carbon infrastructure projects are hampered by poor financial risk management. This problem is more prevalent in developing countries like Ghana where private investment inflow has plummeted due to the COVID-19 recession and poor project performance. Thus, this study aims to assess the key financial risk management strategies in ensuring sustainable PPP infrastructure projects in Ghana. The study utilised primary data from PPP practitioners in Ghana solicited through survey questionnaires. Factor analysis, mean scores and fuzzy synthetic analysis are the data analysis techniques for this study. The results revealed that sustainable and green funding models, effective cost-reduction initiatives, a competent team with committed leadership and emerging technologies and regulations constitute the key strategies for managing the financial risks of sustainable PPP infrastructure projects. Although future studies must expand the scope of data gathering, the findings of the study enrich the theoretical understanding of financial risks in sustainable investments in PPP infrastructures. Relevant remedies that will aid the development of practical financial risk management guidelines are also provided in this study for PPP practitioners. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smart Construction in Infrastructure Project Development)

Review

Jump to: Research

35 pages, 3676 KiB  
Review
Building Information Modelling in Hydropower Infrastructures: Design, Engineering and Management Perspectives
by Jigme Wangchuk, Saeed Banihashemi, Hamidreza Abbasianjahromi and Maxwell Fordjour Antwi-Afari
Infrastructures 2024, 9(7), 98; https://doi.org/10.3390/infrastructures9070098 - 25 Jun 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1691
Abstract
Building Information Modelling (BIM) has emerged as a transformative force in the construction industry, gaining traction within the hydropower sector. This study critically examines the adoption and application of BIM throughout the entire lifecycle of hydropower projects, addressing a notable gap in existing [...] Read more.
Building Information Modelling (BIM) has emerged as a transformative force in the construction industry, gaining traction within the hydropower sector. This study critically examines the adoption and application of BIM throughout the entire lifecycle of hydropower projects, addressing a notable gap in existing research, to encompass a holistic approach to the management and resilience of these critical infrastructures. The objective is to delineate the comprehensive range of BIM applications, use cases, and adoption, integrating technologies including Digital Twin, UAV, GIS, and simulation tools, across components of hydropower projects. Employing a systematic search paired with a critical review of the selected literature, this study meticulously evaluates significant contributions in this domain. Through thematic analysis, the multifaceted utility of BIM in hydropower structures, including an in-depth evaluation of its current adoption within the industry, is presented. This encompasses an analysis of both benefits and challenges inherent in BIM implementation for hydropower infrastructures. This study is a significant contribution to understanding how BIM can be leveraged to enhance the resilience of hydropower infrastructures. It provides a comprehensive view of BIM’s applications, challenges, and future potential, guiding stakeholders in adopting strategies that ensure these structures withstand, adapt, and recover from disruptions while maintaining sustainable and efficient operations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Smart Construction in Infrastructure Project Development)
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop