This study systematically analyzes existing research at the intersection of Industry 4.0 (I4.0) and the emerging Industry 5.0 (I5.0) paradigm in construction materials. It identifies dominant themes, temporal trends and research gaps, with particular attention to performance, sustainability and digital technologies.
This study offers a thematic analysis of 1,797 documents sourced from Scopus and Google Scholar. This method is followed based on Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guideline and analyzed by Biblioshiny approaches within 2016–2025. The analysis is suggested based on co-occurrence networks, thematic maps and temporal Sankey diagrams.
Although compressive strength (203 occurrences) and mechanical properties (143 occurrences), including compressive, split tensile and flexural strengths, are still essential for I4.0, there is an increasing focus on sustainability and resiliency. However, the human centricity is still unexplored since the I5.0 is in the very early stage, and its impacts on human factors are yet in the steady phase. Thematic mapping results suggest emerging areas including machine learning, graphene, basalt fiber, composites and sustainable building.
The results provide essential insights for academics, practitioners and policymakers informing policy development, guiding material innovation and shaping regulatory standards.
The work offers, for the first time, the relationship between I4.0 with construction material context from basic compressive strength and mechanical properties to emerging technological and social aspects.
