To improve the performance of the construction industry, innovative methods were introduced to make them better. Industrialised building systems (IBS) and prefabrication construction are the popular methods used and studied. However, these methods are still unable to meet the demands of the stakeholders. Design for manufacturing and assembly (DfMA) is a design principle that is seen as capable of improving the situation. The uptake of DfMA in the construction industry needs to be analysed to obtain a better picture of the existing condition of the method and its manner of implementation it going forward, but there are still too few studies performed on this topic. This paper gathers relevant articles from the previous studies on DfMA. With the available data, the main benefits, hindrance factors, and enabling factors for DfMA uptake in the construction industry were identified in this study. The authors also identified the research trend among the research themes and the benefits of building information modelling (BIM) integration with DfMA. By synthesising the information from previous studies, a conceptual framework was developed. Knowledge gaps and future potential research topics are also discussed in this paper, forming a simple research framework for future effort guidance. With a suitable strategy and guidelines, the application of DfMA could improve the performance of the construction industry in Malaysia and other places with similar construction environments and approaches.

Of recent, Building Information Modelling (BIM) has become an influential paradigm for the development of better project delivery practices to improve construction and operational efficiencies. In the last 6 years, a significant number of studies have been published on the integration of BIM in Internet of Things (IoT). This paper aims to examine the general research productivity, demographics, and trends shaping the research domain. Hence, the paper will also help to identify, categorize, and synthesize important studies in the research domain. In doing so, we adopt an evidence-based systematic mapping methodology to ensure the coverage of key studies through a systematic and unbiased selection and evaluation process which results in the final selection of 55 relevant studies. The results of the mapping study show that the research on the integration of BIM in IoT is gaining more attention in last 6 years with stable and consistent publication output. Prominent application domains, validation methods, contribution facets, research types, and simulation tools in the field of study were identified and presented. Five research types were also identified, i.e. solution proposal, experience paper, evaluation research, validation research, and opinion paper, with solution proposals getting more research attention. In general, the overall demographics of the research domain were presented and discussed.

The indoor environmental aspects of classrooms in secondary school buildings need to be determined to ensure that they meet the users’ basic requirements. Students’ efficiency and learning productivity can be affected if the classroom’s indoor environment is of poor quality. The question raised here: how can we ensure that the comfort level provided to building users in terms of indoor aspects is up to their satisfaction? Post Occupancy Evaluation (POE) is an instrument to examine the success of building design and performance after occupancy. It indicates users’ satisfaction and comfort level related with the indoor environment. Considering users as a benchmark, there is a large potential for improvement in buildings’ indoor environmental aspects. As reflected by the title, the study’s main purpose is to evaluate students’ satisfaction and perception of their classrooms’ comfort level along with recommendations to enhance the quality of their indoor environment. The survey method applied in this study is by distributing questionnaires to 382 students in classrooms where physical measurements were taken to determine how environmental aspects affect these students. This is because these students are highly correlated with the level of comfort and productivity in the classroom. To enhance physical satisfaction during the learning process, semi-structured interviews consisting of 35 experts in related fields were selected, of whom 17 experts are those with a technical background while the remaining 18 experts are from non-technical fields. The results of this interview will be integrated in finding the best methods to improve Indoor Environment Quality in the classroom. The paper recommends the adaptation of POE in order to evaluate the indoor environmental aspects of classrooms as significant learning spaces in school buildings that need to be managed and monitored continuously.

The process of integrating building information modeling (BIM) and Internet of Things (IoT)-based data sources is a recent development. As a generalization, BIM and IoT data provide complementary perspectives on the project that complement each other’s constraints. Applying the concept of BIM-IoT in the construction industries which has been termed to have a high-risk factor could offer an improvement in the overall performance of the construction industries and thereby reduce the associated risks. This study aims to examine the potential of integrating BIM-IoTs in the construction industries by examining related published literature. Literature analysis revealed that the BIM and IoT have been extensively applied individually to several aspects of construction projects such as construction safety risk assessment, construction conflict management, building construction sustainability, and onsite construction process monitoring. However, there is scanty research awareness on the possibilities of BIM-IoT integration in the construction industries.

Fifth-generation (5G) technology is now being established globally and is a central topic of discussion for future generations. The building sector is at risk because the internet of things (IoT) is one of the central components of building 4.0. Building products from IBM, Amazon, Intel, Google, and Apple have demonstrated the sector’s future direction. For example, IoT can be used in crowdsensing applications, where many building inhabitants submit data to building systems via smart devices such as mobile phones, smartwatches, and other means. Building information modeling (BIM) and IoT data are two distinct entities, each filling a gap left by the other. Previous research has addressed many issues, including sustainability, risk, safety, and BIM-IoT integration. This study analyzed previous studies and research on BIM and IoT data integration, as well as the challenges, benefits, and opportunities that come with it. Furthermore, this study also addressed integrating information obtained/transmitted by sensors and actuators in ways distinct from the software and platform used Using IoT in buildings can improve comfort while reducing energy use.

Globalisation gives the opportunity to contractors from a particular country to venture into various countries around the globe as the construction market is unlimitedly open. Due to this globalisation, the government has signed free trade agreements (FTA) as the result of the liberalisation process. Globalisation and liberalisation do not only provide opportunities and benefits to the local construction market, but also give challenges to local contractors in terms of competition with other local and foreign contractors. Yet, a question arises whether the local contractors in particular are aware with the competitive challenges they are facing against the foreign contractors or even amongst the local contractors themselves. This is because there are limited studies conducted which seek to identify the current levels of awareness on competitiveness among local contractors within the Malaysian construction industry. Hence, this paper emerges with the objectives of (1) identifying the current level of awareness of local contractors on competitiveness and (2) investigating the most important attributes of awareness of local contractors in the Malaysian construction industry. Questionnaire surveys were conducted on local Malaysian contractors involving 61 organisations from 112 venturing into overseas market. Data were analysed via Rasch analysis consisting of five method analysis which are the reliability and validity analysis, organisation misfit analysis, unidimensionality analysis, item misfit analysis and item measure order analysis. Findings from this paper reveal that most of the contractors have a moderate level of awareness on the competitiveness in the Malaysian construction industry. The findings of this study have been concluded as the local contractors acknowledge their competitors' strength and weaknesses when bidding for new projects and also aim to improve their competitiveness in competing with other local contractors locally. Recognition of this paper on the awareness of the importance of competitiveness by various local contractors in the Malaysian construction industry is in line with the Construction Industry Transformation Plan (CITP) 2016–2020 in addressing the Internationalisation Thrust with the aim to increase competitiveness of the domestic market, especially with the presence of foreign players.