Table 1

Comparative summary of previous review studies on UAV applications in construction and the built environment

AuthorYearScopeMethodologyLimitation
Ham et al.2016 Visual monitoring of civil infrastructure (buildings, bridges), streamlining aerial data collection and analysisReview of related worksBroad civil infrastructure focus; lacks exclusive attention to construction safety diagnostics and lifecycle-oriented UAV assessment
Guo et al.2018 General UAV applications in construction management (surveying, monitoring)Narrative reviewDoes not focus on building condition assessment or safety diagnostics; lacks quantitative mapping of intellectual development
Zhou and Gheisari2018 UAV applications in construction (inspection, surveying, safety monitoring, maintenance)Systematic literature reviewBroad application scope; older synthesis lacks quantitative mapping and lifecycle-focused safety assessment
Albeaino et al.2019 AEC-related UAV applications (inspection, progress monitoring, city planning, construction safety)Systematic literature reviewBroad AEC coverage; limited focus on construction safety diagnostics and lifecycle management; lacks structural scientometric mapping
Vanderhorst et al.2019 UAV implementation across the construction project lifecycle (progress, 3D modelling, low-cost measurements)Systematic literature reviewFocused on general lifecycle adoption but not specifically on safety monitoring and building condition assessment; lacks dual-method mapping
Zahari et al.2021 UAV photogrammetry and 3D modellingSystematic literature reviewNarrow technological focus; does not map safety diagnostics or lifecycle-oriented condition monitoring
Videras Rodríguez et al.2021 UAVs in architecture and urbanism (3D models, land mapping, building surveying, site monitoring)Scientometric and bibliometric analysisUses dual-methods but broad scope; lacks exclusive focus on construction safety and lifecycle-focused diagnostics
Perera et al.2022 UAV applications for construction site safetySystematic literature reviewFocused on safety but employs purely qualitative synthesis; lacks quantitative mapping and lifecycle assessment
Rachmawati and Kim2022 UAVs integrated with digital technologies toward Construction 4.0, including safetySystematic literature reviewBroad integration focus; insufficiently deep analysis on safety diagnostics and building condition monitoring
Guan et al.2022 UAV-based remote sensing for construction and civil applicationsLiterature reviewTechnology-centric; includes general risk factors but lacks exclusive focus on safety diagnostics and lifecycle management
Acero Molina et al.2023 UAV research in construction management (inspection, surveying, safety)Literature reviewBroad focus; reviews methods and benefits but lacks dual-method mapping of intellectual structure and lifecycle-focused safety diagnostics
Gupta and Nair2024 UAVs in construction site safety monitoring (PPE/ML algorithms)Bibliometric and content-based analysisQualitative synthesis of specific technical methods; lacks detailed scientometric mapping of safety diagnostics and building condition monitoring
This study2026UAV-based building condition assessment and safety diagnostics across the construction lifecycleIntegrated scientometric and systematic reviewFirst dual-method study providing quantitative structural mapping and deep thematic synthesis focused explicitly on construction safety, building condition assessment, and lifecycle management

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