Investigating Industry 4.0 technologies and studying their impacts on various aspects of the construction industry, including stakeholders and the lifecycle, is vital to enhance novel applications of such technologies in an industry that is known as Construction 4.0. The main objective of the current state-of-the-art review is to provide a comprehensive literature review on three widely used Industry 4.0 technologies, Building Information Modeling (BIM), Blockchain, and LiDAR, which have strong potential to promote and optimize different activities of the project, and also, the integration of them can greatly impact the construction industry in the whole project lifecycle. A bibliometric analysis of keyword co-occurrence and citations revealed a significant number of publications from 2014 to 2023 investigating the selected technologies. Recent trends indicate that the majority of papers have considered the selected technologies in the integration with each other. However, a specific gap exists in the literature regarding the interactions and potential synergies among these technologies. This gap limits the understanding of how these integrations can address challenges unique to the construction industry and hinders the development of comprehensive solutions. The review has been analyzed and discussed in reference to the type of article, single or multi technologies, the lifecycle, and their applications. The study showed that the integration of BIM, Blockchain, and LiDAR, as a recent trend and as a beneficial solution to automate the whole construction process, has considerable capacities to improve the productivity of the construction industry. Finally, some application areas for the integration of these three technologies are concluded and are suggested, and therefore, an advantageous reference has been provided for scholars to plan their future research in this sector.

One of the most significant concerns in urban development today is the organization of areas of cities that have become run-down over time. In order to complete previous constructability studies in other fields of construction, the current study evaluates constructability based on BIM, specifically in the context of the Tehran limited land renewal project. The motivation for this study is the current difficulties facing renewal designs for limited lands, and the lack of a quantitative constructability model for urban renewal projects in Iran. This paper aims (1) to discuss the design elements that should be considered in the design phase of urban renewal projects; (2) to identify the factors that may affect constructability; and (3) to propose a framework for assessing urban renewal designs by considering constructability factors using building information modeling (BIM). To meet these needs, this paper investigates constructability factors and their relative importance, considering the design elements that should be acknowledged in limited land renewal, using a multicriteria techniques. Some 28 constructability factors are identified through a literature review, and based on 52 responses received from a questionnaire survey, the factors are ranked using pairwise comparisons of the analytic hierarchy process (AHP). The final constructability factors that are identified through the technique for order preference using the similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) method are standard dimensions, safety, simplification of structure, resource intelligence and alignment, and skilled labor availability. The contribution of this research to the body of knowledge is, firstly, the development of constructability factors for measuring the constructability of urban renewal designs, and secondly, the introduction of BIM as a most beneficial tool for assessing the constructability of the proposed designs. In using the constructability assessment framework and identifying the trade-offs between the constructability of renewal projects in the limited areas of urban spaces, design alternatives become more feasible.

Nowadays, providing housing for the low-income groups of society is a concern for governments, especially in developing nations. An attempt has been made to recognize the most significant real criteria for reducing housing project costs and providing affordable housing for them by studying previous research and analyzing the collected information. First, the resources compiled in the field of affordable housing were reviewed, and data were gathered. Next, qualitative and quantitative questionnaires were provided, and the experts’ answers were analyzed in three steps (Delphi technique, AHP techniques, and case studies). By analyzing the findings, it was concluded that the current approaches in housing planning need to be revised to achieve the government’s goals and policies. Therefore, the physical indicators and patterns of vernacular and traditional houses in different climatic regions should be known and changed in the next step according to the needs of the modern world. The adaptation of today’s architecture from the vernacular architectural features of the past is one of the important things that should be considered. In this research, the consideration of housing preparation for low-income groups and reducing housing project costs, by identifying the most important effective criteria mentioned in other previous studies, is the novel contribution of this research.

Purpose: This paper aims to explore the application of the Metaverse in the construction industry through an in-depth literature review. It highlights the core enabling technologies and investigates how they contribute to creating immersive, intelligent and sustainable construction practices in line with Industry 5.0 ideals. Design/methodology/approach: This study utilizes a systematic literature review methodology, examining 194 peer-reviewed articles published from 2015 to 2024. The papers were selected from top academic databases using specific inclusion and exclusion criteria. The review centers on Metaverse applications, the foundational technologies involved and their influence on various aspects of the construction industry. Findings: The results highlight the growing scholarly interest in the application of Metaverse technologies in the building sector, which has grown significantly since 2021. Key technologies identified include augmented reality, virtual reality, mixed reality, extended reality (XR), building information modeling, Digital Twin, the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence and blockchain technology (BCT). These technologies facilitate real-time collaboration, immersive visual environments, secure data exchange and smart decision-making processes. Seven major areas of the construction industry – project management, architectural design, urban planning, construction education, civil engineering, energy management and supply chain coordination – are seeing a surge in innovation because of the Metaverse. Full integration is nevertheless hindered by persistent issues with data privacy, interoperability and regulatory uncertainty, despite its potential. Practical implications: This study provides practical insights for industry stakeholders aiming to leverage Metaverse technologies for digital transformation in construction. It emphasizes the need for integrated frameworks, skilled workforce development and consideration of environmental and economic impacts. Originality/value: This paper offers a novel synthesis of current literature at the intersection of Metaverse technologies and construction, highlighting research gaps and suggesting directions for future exploration. It contributes to the theoretical and practical understanding of how Metaverse adoption can drive smart, sustainable and human-centric innovation in the construction industry.