Deploying industry 4.0 enabling technologies in construction projects: a Danish approach

The new EU strategy calls for speeding up technological innovations, sustainability, and social inclusion as the main areas that allow competitiveness to be re-established in a new geopolitical situation. Aligning with this, the Danish construction industry is emphasizing leveraging I4.0 technologies to improve efficiency and decrease emissions. However, there is a lack of empirical studies that investigate the deployment of I4.0 technologies in construction. The aim of this investigation, therefore, is to analyse how I4.0 technologies are deployed in real on-site settings. The analysis was carried out using the UTAUT technology acceptance model. The study outlines Performance Expectancy and Effort Expectancy constructs as key predictors for the practical application of I4.0 technologies. Findings suggest that the project-based nature of construction, as well as the high level of variation in physical conditions at the on-site location, may challenge acceptance of new technology in construction. It is suggested to further investigate the "Physical Conditions" as an additional construct in technology acceptance models.