A Systematic Literature Review Approach on the Role of Digitalization in Construction Infrastructure and Sustainable City Development in Developing Countries

Abstract

The continuous surge of humans from the rural areas to the cities in search for livelihood has assumed an unprecedented dimension in recent years. More disturbing is the dearth of supportive infrastructure to meet the growing need for decent housing and other social amenities. The use of digital technology in virtually every field of human endeavor has become common place and a contemporary value driven approach to resource allocation, mobilization, utilization, and performance. Many of a nations’ economic sectors have recorded improved performance and resource optimization through the adoption of digital technologies. Notable among these include manufacturing, agriculture, healthcare, banking, to mention a few. Unfortunately, only a little can be said about the adoption of digital technology in the various and complex activities and operations of the construction industry value chain, hence the need for an expository study that would harness the benefits of numerous emerging digital technologies in the sector. This study adopted a systematic literature review (SLR) methodology on a rigorous and extensive study, involving recent relevant scholarly researches (2016-2020) to assess the role of digital technology in infrastructure provisioning and sustainable cities development. It also examined the benefits and challenges of construction industry digitalization in developing countries. Findings of the study showed lack of government support, financial constraints, and lack of technical know-how, as major impediments towards the adoption and implementation of digital technologies in developing countries. The study concluded that the benefits of digitalization of the construction industry is enormous and includes sustainability of the environment, society, and economy amongst several others.