Digitalisation in the Construction Sector Analytical Report
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Digitalisation in the construction sector Analytical Report Ref. Ares(2021)2699252 - 22/04/2021 European Construction Sector Observatory Digitalisation in the construction sector Analytical Report April 2021 European Construction Sector Observatory 1 Digitalisation in the construction sector Analytical Report DISCLAIMER The information and views set out in this Analytical Report are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official opinion of the European Commission. The Commission does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this Analytical Report. Neither the Commission nor any person acting on the Commission’s behalf may be held responsible for the use which may be made of the information contained therein. European Construction Sector Observatory 2 Digitalisation in the construction sector Analytical Report Table of Contents Executive Summary .................................................................................................................................. 7 List of abbreviations ............................................................................................................................... 11 1. Setting the scene ................................................................................................................................ 12 1.1 Background .............................................................................................................................................. 12 1.2 Methodology ........................................................................................................................................... 13 1.3 Glossary ................................................................................................................................................... 17 2. State of play of digitalisation in the construction sector ...................................................................... 19 2.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................. 19 2.2 Digitalisation of the EU construction sector ............................................................................................ 19 2.3 Summary of the main findings ................................................................................................................ 54 3. Digitalisation policies and initiatives in the EU .................................................................................... 55 3.1 EU policy framework ............................................................................................................................... 55 3.2 Member States’ digitalisation policies and initiatives ............................................................................. 65 3.3 Summary of the main findings ................................................................................................................ 93 4. Drivers and challenges of digitalisation in the construction sector ....................................................... 95 4.1 Drivers ...................................................................................................................................................... 95 4.2 Challenges .............................................................................................................................................. 106 5. Conclusions and lessons learnt ......................................................................................................... 119 5.1 Main findings ......................................................................................................................................... 119 5.2 Observations .......................................................................................................................................... 121 5.3 Lessons learnt ........................................................................................................................................ 123 Bibliography ........................................................................................................................................ 129 Annexes ............................................................................................................................................... 132 European Construction Sector Observatory 3 Digitalisation in the construction sector Analytical Report Table of Figures Figure 1: A four-pillar methodology .................................................................................................................................... 14 Figure 2: Survey respondents by type ................................................................................................................................ 15 Figure 3: Overview of survey respondents by countries .................................................................................................... 16 Figure 4: Three categories of digital technologies in construction ..................................................................................... 19 Figure 5: Overview of the interactions among digital technologies in the construction sector ......................................... 20 Figure 6: The use of digital technologies in the Construction sector .................................................................................. 21 Figure 7: Extent of sensors adoption in EU MS .................................................................................................................. 22 Figure 8: Average monthly sensors online search volume (2016-2020) ............................................................................. 22 Figure 9: Sensors’ growth in interest (2015-2020) ............................................................................................................. 23 Figure 10: Extent of IoT adoption in EU MS ....................................................................................................................... 24 Figure 11: Average monthly IoT search volume (2016-2020) ............................................................................................. 25 Figure 12: IoT's growth in interest ...................................................................................................................................... 25 Figure 13: Efficient IoT-based sensors BIG Data collection–processing and analysis in smart buildings ........................... 27 Figure 14: Extent of 3D scanner adoption in EU MS ........................................................................................................... 28 Figure 15: Average monthly 3D Scan search volume (2016-2020) ..................................................................................... 28 Figure 16: 3D Scan's growth in interest (2015-2020).......................................................................................................... 29 Figure 17: Example of the use of 3D Scanning to preserve Europe’s wooden built heritage ............................................. 30 Figure 18: Italian start-up Gexcel, in cooperation with the European JRC, has developed a backpack equipped with a 3D scanner for rapid mapping of indoor and outdoor sites ..................................................................................................... 30 Figure 19: Adoption extent of Robotics in EU MS ............................................................................................................... 31 Figure 20: Average monthly Robotics search volume (2016-2020) .................................................................................... 31 Figure 21: Robotics’ growth in interest............................................................................................................................... 32 Figure 22: Concept of Spexor .............................................................................................................................................. 33 Figure 23: Extent of adoption of 3D Printing in EU MS ....................................................................................................... 33 Figure 24: Average monthly 3D Printing search volume (2016-2020) ................................................................................ 34 Figure 25: 3D Printing's growth in interest (2015-2020) .................................................................................................... 34 Figure 26: Italian company WASP has built one of the largest 3D printers in the world. In the picture, the use of a clay- based 3D printer to build a sustainable house (“Tecla” project) ........................................................................................ 35 Figure 27: Extent of drones’ adoption in EU MS ................................................................................................................. 35 Figure 28: Average monthly Drones search volume (2016-2020) ...................................................................................... 36 Figure 29: Drones’ growth in interest (2015-2020) ............................................................................................................ 36 Figure 30: German company h-aero has developed drones that can be used to scan, stock-take and inspect tunnels, power plants, and other sites ............................................................................................................................................. 37