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Introduction
Smart digital technologies are emerging in the Architecture-Engineering-Construction-Operation (AECO) industry. Increasingly, researchers in the construction engineering and management, construction informatics, and construction automation and robotics domains are moving away from traditional scientific conceptualizations that encapsulate research problems as either production-centric or technology-centric. Instead, integrative human-centered and production-technology-driven approaches where organization dynamics and culture, human-centered design, and human-computer/ machine/ information-interaction considerations at the core of this integration are becoming more and more popular. As evidence of this conceptual and methodological shift, leading research communities such as the International Group for Lean Construction (IGLC) and the International Association for Automation and Robotics in Construction (IAARC) have opened the door to those examples of integrated, more holistic research in their corresponding conference series. As a result, new lines of transdisciplinary research inspired by innovative design and production management such as Lean Thinking, Industry 4.0/5.0, agile management and Lean 4.0 are fostering the synergies between smart digital technologies and a human-centric industry.
This special issue aims to spotlight the evolving integration of Smart Digital Technologies and Lean Construction with emphasis on human-centered design systems, and its transformative impact on the AECO industry. This special issue is unique as it motivates inclusive and human-centered engineering thinking and novel research that comprises human-centered, Lean-based approaches and the use of Smart Digital Technologies. We believe that this vision offers a tangible opportunity to “effectively” bridge the persistent productivity and digitalization gaps within the AECO industry.
Therefore, we invite authors with interests revolving around innovations at the interfaces between Construction Smart Digitalization/Automation, and Lean Design and Construction principles, to submit manuscripts addressing innovative theory, process design, and scaled implementation issues in AECO projects and organizations, as well as case studies. We will pay attention to the Lean Production theory, principles, and methods being studied, as well as, how the Smart Digital Technologies-driven solutions are built upon it, and the synergies that emerge from their integration.
List of topic areas:
We also acknowledge that diverse perspectives of analysis might surface (e.g., lean→technology, technology→lean, both in parallel). Such perspectives are equally valued and welcomed in this special issue. The list below illustrate topics sorted by area (i.e., Lean Construction topics, and Digital Processes and Smart Technologies topics) to be considered for potential publication. Submissions that demonstrate an integrated and holistic research approach are particularly encouraged:
LEAN CONSTRUCTION TOPICS:
- Production Planning and Control.
- Health, Safety and Quality.
- Lean Design and DfMA.
- Relational contracts and Cost Management.
- Lean and Integrated Project Delivery (IPD).
- Integrated design management and Design Thinking.
- People, Culture and Change.
- Lean Education and Curriculum Development/ Learning and Teaching Lean.
- Production System Design and Optimization.
- Green Procurement and Product Circularity.
- Supply Chain Management.
- Prefabrication and Off-Site Construction.
- Lean System and Building-as-a-Product Management.
DIGITAL PROCESSES AND SMART TECHNOLOGIES TOPICS:
- Digital Twins.
- AI Applications (Computer Vision, Natural Language Processing, Large Language Models, etc.) and Soft Computing.
- Human-Computer/Information/Machine-Interaction.
- On-site and off-site Automation and Robotics.
- Sensing Technologies/Computer Vision.
- Computer Simulation and Modeling, Building Information Modeling (BIM), and nD-BIM.
- Extended Reality (VR/AR/MR).
- Gamification and Serious Games.
- Data Infrastructure.
- Cyber-security.
- Blockchain.
- Big and Small Data Analytics.
- Computational Design .
- Smart Building Performance and Digital Green Building.
- Digital platforms development and platform-based design, construction and operations.
- Transformative technologies and 4D printing.
Guest Editors
Vicente A. Gonzalez, Professor of Construction Engineering and Management and Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Digital Lean Construction, University of Alberta, [email protected]
Borja Garcia de Soto, Associate Professor of Civil and Urban Engineering and Global Network Associate Professor, New York University Abu Dhabi, [email protected]
Ming Shan Ng (Charmaine), Professor, Kyoto Institute of Technology, [email protected]
Qian Chen, Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering, The University of British Columbia, [email protected]
Submissions Information
Submissions are made using ScholarOne Manuscripts. Author guidelines must be strictly followed.
Authors should select (from the drop-down menu) the special issue title at the appropriate step in the submission process, i.e. in response to “Please select the issue you are submitting to”.
Submitted articles must not have been previously published, nor should they be under consideration for publication anywhere else while under review for this journal.
Key deadlines
Closing date for manuscripts submission: 31st December 2024
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