From Construction 4.0 to Construction 5.0: Principles and Enabling Technologies

Xichen Chen¹, Fenguxan Liu², Amirhosein Ghaffarianhoseini¹, Ali GhaffarianHoseini¹, Brian Guo³

1. Auckland University of Technology
2. University of Auckland
3. University of Canterbury

Published in Proceedings of the International Conference on Smart and Sustainable Built Environment (SASBE 2024), edited by Ali GhaffarianHoseini, Amirhosein GhaffarianHoseini, Farzad Rahimian and Mahesh Babu Purushothaman. Springer Nature, Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering, volume 591, 2025, pages 915 to 927. DOI 10.1007/978-981-96-4051-5_88.

Abstract

The transition from Construction 4.0 (C4.0) to Construction 5.0 (C5.0) is propelled by global imperatives for sustainability and resilience, alongside the architecture, engineering, and construction sector’s pursuit of net-zero emission targets. This study identifies core principles and enabling technologies that differentiate C4.0 from C5.0, drawing upon insights from a focus group of 17 industry practitioners. The findings reveal a shared understanding of the distinctions between C4.0 and C5.0, particularly regarding goals, priorities, and focus areas. Eighteen digital technologies currently implemented under C4.0 are identified and classified into six functional groups supporting specific AEC activities: (1) automation and fabrication, (2) modeling, representation, and visualization, (3) communication and connectivity, (4) immersive interaction, (5) data acquisition, sensing, and monitoring, and (6) data processing, analysis, and intelligence. Each technology is further categorized as core, supportive, or emerging, based on its maturity, integration, and impact on C4.0 transformation. The study also identifies 12 enabling technologies essential for advancing C5.0, with AI/ML, digital twins, and IoT - integral to C4.0 - remaining central in addressing the growing complexities of C5.0. Emerging innovations, such as collaborative robotics and cognitive computing, are poised to enhance adaptability to evolving project demands and drive sustainability. This research introduces a novel perspective on the intersection of technological evolution and socio-environmental values, informed by empirical data from industry stakeholders. It also provides new insights for organizations by identifying key enabling technologies and their integration pathways to facilitate sector-specific transformation toward the C5.0 paradigm.

Keywords

Session

Presented in Recorded Presentations, Session II, Friday 8 November 2024, 16:30 to 19:00, room WG 201, Auckland University of Technology. Session chair Dr Kamal Dhawan.

How to Cite

Chen, X., Liu, F., Ghaffarianhoseini, A., GhaffarianHoseini, A., & Guo, B. (2025). From Construction 4.0 to Construction 5.0: Principles and Enabling Technologies. In A. GhaffarianHoseini, A. GhaffarianHoseini, F. Rahimian, & M. B. Purushothaman (Eds.), Proceedings of the International Conference on Smart and Sustainable Built Environment (SASBE 2024) (Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering, Vol. 591, pp. 915–927). Springer Nature Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-96-4051-5_88

About the Conference

Presented at SASBE 2024, the International Conference on Smart and Sustainable Built Environment, held in Auckland from 7 to 9 November 2024 and chaired by Professors Ali and Amirhosein GhaffarianHoseini, founders of GDI Academy. The version of record is published by Springer Nature; this page is the conference archive record kept by GDI Academy.