Volumetric Modular Construction Risks: A Comprehensive Review and Digital-Technology-Coupled Circular Mitigation Strategies

Ayaz Ahmad Khan (), Rongrong Yu, Tingting Liu, Ning Gu and James Walsh
Additional contact information
Ayaz Ahmad Khan: Australian Research Centre for Interactive and Virtual Environments (IVE), UniSA Creative, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
Rongrong Yu: Australian Research Centre for Interactive and Virtual Environments (IVE), UniSA Creative, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
Tingting Liu: Cities Research Institute, School of Engineering and Built Environment, Griffith University, Southport, QLD 4222, Australia
Ning Gu: Australian Research Centre for Interactive and Virtual Environments (IVE), UniSA Creative, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
James Walsh: Australian Research Centre for Interactive and Virtual Environments (IVE), UniSA Creative, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 8, 1-34

Abstract: Volumetric modular construction (VMC) has considerable benefits in providing better cost, time, quality, productivity, and sustainability performance. However, the adoption is low, owing to various associated risks. This study aims to identify VMC critical risk factors (CRFs) in project stages and project attributes by conducting a systematic literature review of 91 articles. In the project stages, 31 CRFs were identified based on frequency analyses, and divided into four stages: design and planning, offsite manufacturing, transportation and logistics, and onsite assembly. The project attribute risks were divided into the following categories: implementation and schedule, supply chain and financial, safety and ergonomic, and civil and structural. Overall, design and planning risks were critical, as they are crucial in maintaining the project’s upstream and downstream flow. Finally, the study proposed a mitigation framework for using digital technology-based circular strategies to overcome VMC risks. The framework includes disruptive and emergent digital technologies aiming to mitigate risks in VMC, keeping circularity in action. In terms of theoretical contributions, this research delivers a CRF register and categorical division for professionals to better understand the landscape of VMC risks. In terms of practical contributions, the study guides the practitioners towards strategies to overcome the pertinent risks.

Keywords: volumetric modular construction (VMC); project stage risks; project attribute risks; systematic literature review; digital technology; circular economy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/8/7019/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/8/7019/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:8:p:7019-:d:1129751

Access Statistics for this article

Sustainability is currently edited by Ms. Alexandra Wu

More articles in Sustainability from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().