Over the past decades, digital construction tools (building information modelling, simulation tools; see, for example, Schmailzl et al., 2023), novel ways of physical construction (modular and prefabricated construction, construction robotics; Bock and Linner, 2017), and the search for tools and techniques to make building components and buildings more sustainable (through design, new raw materials, new additives etc., Barnes et al., 2022) have not only become major research directions in the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) sectors but tend to converge and more and more their synergistic integration are explored and leveraged. In many cases this is accompanied by the utilisation of novel views on the construction and building-life cycle by management techniques such as lean-construction (see, for example, Albalkhy et al., 2023).
The first paper focuses on a dialectical system framework for the modular construction supply chain (Pan et al., 2024). It analyses the key components of the MC supply chain (preapproval, building plan pre-submission, detailed design, module production, logistics, module installation, and quality assurance and quality control with the goal to develop a road map for sustainable future supply chains.
The second contribution to this issue focuses on environmental management systems (EMSs) in the architecture, engineering and construction sectors (Horry et al., 2024). In the AEC sectors the use of EMSs has received worldwide attention. The contribution investigates and critically discusses the experiences of experts who have implemented and used ISO 14001 in AEC organisations based in the UK.
In the third paper paper, Guo et al. (2024) explore the energy consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions with Chaina as a major example. Based on the life-cycle assessment theory, an urban rail transit system GHG emission assessment method was developed building on inputs from actual investigated data.
The fourth paper focuses on the sustainability of alternative concretes: energy and life-cycle analysis (Nair and Anand, 2024). LCA was conducted using the SimaPro software, and it find that concrete with alternative materials such as fly ash, silica fume, ground granulated blast furnace slag and recycled aggregate show excellent performance in terms of energy indicators.
The fifth paper focuses on improving building energy efficiency and thermal comfort with natural fibre insulation (Kadi et al., 2024). The study assessed by means of simulations the impact of ecological insulation materials on thermal comfort and energy efficiency in the case of a residential building in a Mediterranean climate.
The last paper focuses on the influence on construction waste of the lean-building information modelling interaction (Karatas and Budak, 2024). The research determined which types of waste that occur during the construction phase are influenced and reduced by lean principles and building information modelling (BIM) functions.
Taken together, the papers in this issue reveal the increasing convergence of digital construction techniques, new physical construction technologies, sustainable construction and novel construction management techniques – complementarities are key for successful innovations. Upcoming themed issues will explore areas such as modular and robotic construction and the potentials they hold for sustainable construction in more detail. With more than 400 start-ups emerging on a worldwide basis the research domain automation and robotics in construction shows a vastly thriving body of research with more and more links to sustainable construction explored.
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