Investigating Construction 4.0 Integration in the Greek AEC Industry : Perceptions and Societal Analysis of the AEC Industry

Sammanfattning: The Architecture, Engineering & Construction industry (AEC) is considered one of the largest sectors worldwide and complexed due to the complexity and uniqueness of construction projects. In contradiction to other industries, AEC illustrates high fragmentation, resistance to change, and significantly lower adoption rate of new technology solutions than other industries. The highly disruptive nature of the upcoming technological revolution of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) in the AEC sector and the need for effective implementation of technological innovations is reified in the concept of Construction 4.0. The technological wave that is expected to arise with the 4IR may subsequently entail both opportunities and threats in technological, organizational, individual, societal and sustainability perspectives. This thesis focuses on two major steps. The first step is the assessment of the AEC industry towards the successful implementation of 4IR in the industry. The second step is dedicated to a horizontal and vertical integration of Construction 4.0 contemplating the social perspective of technology. Qualitative research methods such as literature review and interviews using the PESTELE framework have been applied to gather data that will be analyzed with TOE and Social Construction of Technology Theory (SCOT). This study has realized the necessity to develop a comprehensive approach of the AEC industry based on the societal structure and identified the need for horizontal and vertical assessment of the involved social and professional groups.