Smart building technology (SBT) has been a prominent practical and academic topic in the built environment due to adopting sustainable development and digitization to maximize energy efficiency, reduce CO2 emissions, and maximize thermal comfort. While the construction industry is currently adopting smart building technology (SBT), numerous obstacles have prevented its widespread use. Thus, this study aims to examine the significant barriers underlying the adoption of SBT from the perspective of construction professionals. A systematic literature review of 30 articles and a well-structured questionnaire via quantitative research was adopted to collect pertinent information from 244 construction professionals. The collected data were analyzed using the Kruskal–Wallis’s test, exploratory factor analysis (EFA), and partial least-squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The study found that all the 22 identified barrier factors significantly affect the adoption of SBT. Furthermore, the high material and equipment costs for smart buildings, inadequate power supply, poor maintenance culture and inadequate well-trained staff are the five topmost barriers affecting the adoption of SBT. The factor analysis categorized the industry-relevant barriers into four groups: Awareness, Economics, human, and Management. Finally, the structural equation modelling revealed that human-related and management-related barriers are the most significant, with path coefficients of β 0.395 and 0.309, respectively. Therefore, it is imperative that the authorities of various professional organizations actively participate in the crucial implementation of smart building technology. The analysis highlighted smart building adoption opportunities and practical strategies for overcoming barriers. These findings provide evidence that building professionals should develop strategies to prevent the identified barriers from hindering the adoption and deployment of smart building technologies.
Citation
Ejidike, C. C., Mewomo, M. C., Olawumi, T., Wang, S., & Kamil Buniya, M. (in press). Barriers to the Adoption of Smart Building Technology in Developing Countries: An Empirical Survey. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management,
Journal Article Type
Article
Acceptance Date
Nov 19, 2024
Deposit Date
Nov 24, 2024
Journal
ASCE Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
Print ISSN
0733-9364
Electronic ISSN
1943-7862
Publisher
American Society of Civil Engineers
Peer Reviewed
Peer Reviewed
Keywords
Smart building; Sustainable construction; barriers; Smart building technologies; sustainable development.
