Purpose: The digital progress is slow within the constructional sector in comparison to other type of businesses and it has the reputation of being relatively conservative. To say that the progress is standing still would be mistake since the majority of constructional companies are working actively for a more digital construction site. Even though these companies are working hard towards a more digital sector the construction site is dominated by paper documents, non-autonomic systems and the labor is done the same way as it has been done for decades. Even though multiple digital tools and implementation models are available the construction sector is facing a lot of resistance. This report examines those digital innovations that are on the rampaging and can do a significant good within the construction sector.
Method: Through search engines at the university's database, as well as the internet, collection of raw data was collected, which would then be analyzed and underlie for qualitative collection methods. The literature study was the foundation of the semistructured interviews, which in turn enabled a comparison between the theoretical framework and interview results.
Findings: A vast majority of the interviewed participants believe that the 3D-printer sometime in the future may be used within the construction sector. An implementation of the 3D-printer would induce shorter production times, reduced production costs, elimination of waste and reduced costs for labor. Autonomic systems will probably not be implemented on construction sites within a short future since different construction projects are to diverse. If the construction would become more monotonic it would ease considerably, but today one project is rarely analogous to the other. Big data is an innovation that could revolutionize the construction sector in a lot of different ways. The respondents did not understand the meaning of the term, which interpret that it is not an innovation in focus for the time being. The possibilities of Big data are substantial and it could be used for more effective communication, more efficiency within the construction site, more detailed checkups of machinery and more controlled building material checkups.
Implications: For a generally successful implementation of 3D-printers they need to be affordable for the smaller companies. Otherwise the larger firms risk to put the smaller firms out of business. Since concrete is a material with a relatively large impact on the environment this may cause consequences for the environment in the future since its already in an exposed situation. Since it´s globally working actively with improving the environment the focus should be in producing more environmentally acceptable concrete for the 31d-printers.
Limitations: The study was limited to a handful of Swedish constructional companies within the Gothenburg region. In the report, only the opinions of a few respondent are taken to consideration.