Spatiotemporal patterns of the synergistic development of digitalization and greenization in the construction industry: evidence from listed construction companies in China

Purpose This study aims to evaluate the synergistic development between digitalization and greenization in China's construction industry, analyzing its spatiotemporal patterns and regional disparities from 2014 to 2023. The goal is to uncover the internal mechanisms driving this coordination and to provide evidence-based guidance for high-quality industry transformation under China's “dual-carbon” goals. Design/methodology/approach Using data from A-share listed construction firms in Shanghai and Shenzhen, this paper constructs an index system for digitalization and greenization. It employs the entropy weight TOPSIS method, an improved coupling coordination degree model, kernel density estimation, Dagum Gini coefficient and standard deviation ellipse to assess levels of synergy, spatial-temporal trends and regional inequality. Findings The synergy between digitalization and greenization in China's construction industry shows a steady upward trajectory, shifting from imbalance toward coordination, though interprovincial disparities persist. A core–periphery pattern of “low in the west, medium in the center, and high in the east” has formed, with the east advancing fastest and regional disparities gradually narrowing. Yet, the west–other gap remains the main source of differentiation. This study enriches the research framework of corporate dual transformation, providing theoretical and empirical support for regional synergy and high-quality development in the construction industry. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is among the first to quantitatively assess the dual transformation of construction enterprises from a firm-level, spatiotemporal perspective using advanced multi-method analysis. It constructs a bidirectional interaction framework of “digitalization-greenization,” extending complex system theory to the green digital transition of traditional industries.