Abstract

The construction industry is evolving at a global scale because of increasing demand. Automation is the latest advent in global industries, and it has already shown significant implications for the construction industry. Every technology that brings automation to the construction industry has some drivers. The significance of automation drivers depends on industry size and its existing exposure to current technology. Further, the benefits are totally dependent on the implementation's effectiveness. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between construction automation drivers and construction automation implementation. Following a mix of qualitative and quantitative research approaches, the overall analysis was carried out. Initially, the construction automation drivers and construction automation implementation benefits were selected from literature and then shortened with expert opinion. A pilot survey was then conducted, and exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was applied to exclude insignificant factors. Then, a main survey questionnaire was developed on the basis of the results of EFA, and structural equation modeling (SEM) was applied to the results. A final SEM of construction automation drivers and construction automation implementation was presented as the ultimate outcome of the study. Cultural drivers, technical drivers, and industrial drivers are the three formative constructs with high significance for construction automation drivers. Similarly, construction planning and construction accuracy are reflective of the benefits of construction automation implementation. Positive theoretical and practical implications are indicated by the studies that are targeted to provide ground knowledge regarding the construction automation drivers and implementation benefits.

Key words: Construction automation drivers; construction automation implementation; aotomated construction technologies.