Innovation in construction: A project life cycle approach

Abstract

The construction industry has long been criticised for its conservatism and lack of innovation. But is this characterisation fair? Much of the innovation in the sector occurs at the project level and tends to be process and organization based. According to official statistics construction companies invest comparatively little in formal R&D, but rather adopt new technology and develop new ideas to improve their operations. Such innovations are difficult to capture with standard indicators which tend to be more suitable for technology intensive sectors. Consequently, more research is required to develop appropriate metrics for the different types of innovative activities that are carried out throughout the lifecycle of construction projects.

Keywords: Construction, Innovation, Technology