Corruption in construction is widely recognized as a major obstacle to development in emerging economies; however, there remains a significant gap in understanding its specific socio-economic impacts and effective strategies for mitigation. This study seeks to address this gap by empirically examining the 16 potential impacts of corruption in construction projects. Data collected from 71 construction professionals in Vietnam were analysed using various statistical methods, including Cronbach’s alpha for internal consistency, the Kaiser–Meyer–Olkin measure for sampling adequacy, Bartlett’s test of sphericity, factor loadings, and ranking by mean scores. The findings highlighted that the most significant consequence of corruption is the erosion of fair competition, followed by hindered company development, construction monopolies, diminished government revenue, and increased income inequality. Theoretically, this study deepens the understanding of how corruption distorts construction dynamics in emerging economies, contributing to the broader academic discourse on its social and economic consequences. By demonstrating how corruption undermines fair competition, hinders company development, and exacerbates income inequality, it also highlights the detrimental impact on social equity and economic inclusion. Furthermore, the findings support policymakers and industry stakeholders in addressing systemic corruption, ensuring that the benefits of construction projects are distributed more fairly across society.

In the fourth industrial revolution (4IR) context, innovations and changes in the construction industries worldwide require all nations to adopt innovations and technologies to improve productivity and achieve sustainable development goals (SDGs). Artificial intelligence technology (AI) has been developed and implemented in several industries in Vietnam. However, the application of AI is not as widespread among construction companies in the Vietnamese construction industry, and there still seems to be some uncertainty about the benefits and barriers of AI. This paper identified the application of AI technology in construction, its benefits and obstacles in the Vietnamese context. The research results support enhancing the implementation of AI to improve the productivity of the construction industry not only in more advanced countries but also in developing countries toward sustainable development goals.

Purpose: New Zealand (NZ) has committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, with the refurbishment of existing buildings and infrastructure playing a crucial role in this endeavour. This research aims to evaluate current zero-carbon refurbishment (ZCR) practices and collect expert perspectives to improve these practices across the country. Design/methodology/approach: Employing a qualitative approach, this study involves semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders, including construction managers, engineers, cost managers, quantity surveyors and sustainability experts. It also includes an analysis of industry documents to enrich the findings. Findings: The research highlights effective strategies and tools currently used for achieving ZCR, with a focus on carbon assessment and life cycle costing techniques. Key challenges identified include the need for accurate building data, access to consistent and reliable carbon data sources, standardised methodologies for carbon assessment, specialist involvement and enhanced collaboration and integration. Based on these insights, the study offers practical recommendations to facilitate informed decision-making and help stakeholders select cost-effective ZCR options, thereby fostering sustainable practices in NZ and potentially influencing global standards. Originality/value: This study provides valuable insights into the practical aspects and critical considerations necessary for successful ZCR projects. By fostering a deeper understanding of these elements, it assists in making informed decisions that advance sustainable practices in the refurbishment sector.

This study identifies the key competencies considered important for construction professionals and examines differences in their perceived importance across work-experience groups. A literature review and expert review informed a questionnaire comprising 24 competencies, which was completed by 235 construction professionals in Vietnam. Descriptive statistics, Welch’s ANOVA, Benjamini–Hochberg false-discovery-rate control, Games–Howell comparisons, effect-size estimation, and focused covariate-adjusted sensitivity analyses were used. The results reveal five key findings. Fundamental professional competencies, including work attitude, work motivation, problem-solving, work management, analytical skills, and work discipline, ranked highly across the sample. Digital competencies, including knowledge of modern construction technologies and proficiency in construction software, were also considered important, although several professional and managerial competencies ranked higher. Perceived competency priorities differed significantly across work-experience groups. Respondents with 16–20 years of experience assigned comparatively lower importance to several competency areas, producing a distinctive mid-career priority pattern rather than evidence of lower actual competence. The resulting career-stage competency framework summarizes these experience-differentiated priorities and informs professional development, engineering education, and workforce training. Because the survey is cross-sectional and measures perceived importance rather than proficiency, the framework represents differences among experience groups rather than a longitudinal competency-maturity trajectory.

The study shows the effectiveness of applying digital twins in urban management worldwide and the possibility of using digital twins in urban management in Vietnam by analyzing readiness levels in terms of finance, personnel, and technology. Research on the application of digital twins to manage urban areas in Vietnam will be a scientific basis for promoting the application of digital technology to improve the quality and efficiency of urban management in Vietnam. However, addressing the challenges and finding opportunities will contribute to accelerating digital transformation in the construction industry in general, while improving the quality and efficiency of urban management in Vietnam in the future.

1. Reducing carbon emissions remains one of the most urgent challenges in the global built environment. More than 70 countries have pledged to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, yet only 14 are cu...