Advancements in Digitalization and Automation in the Construction Industry towards Sustainable Infrastructure: Present and Future Perspectives

The construction industry is facing challenges in data management, quality, safety and decision-making due to its complexity and fragmented nature. Engineering informatics provides essential tools and methods to streamline the construction processes and enables data-driven decisions, enhances project quality and efficiency, supports sustainability development, and reduces project costs by integrating intelligent data processing into the construction lifecycle. The objective of this review article is to provide a comprehensive overview of the state-of-the-art in digitalization and automation in the construction industry, encompassing the various engineering informatics employed in the construction industry such as additive manufacturing in construction, building information modelling, internet of things, digital twin in construction, artificial intelligence, and machine learning. The present study utilized a systematic review methodology to thoroughly assess literature on digitalization and automation in the construction industry towards sustainability. Based on the review, it can be concluded that compared to conventional methods, additive manufacturing in construction offers high resource efficiency, reduces waste, requires minimal labor, and enables the creation of complex designs. The review led to identify the potential of building information modelling and Internet of Things technology which enhances transparency, efficiency, and security in construction projects, enabling real-time monitoring, tracking, and data integrity. Digital twin technology offers transformative potential for construction, enabling enhanced planning, design efficiency, improve structural analysis, mix properties, and sustainability. Additionally, key findings shows that AI and ML enhances data security, integrity, safety and transparency, addressing critical risks across the construction lifecycle. This paper is significant for both academic and industrialists, focusing on sustainability involving advancements in digitalization and automation.