Abstract
Since the mid-1990s, lean management methodologies established in manufacturing have been adapted and applied in the construction industry under the term "lean construction". This has led to drastic reductions of lead times and costs and improved levels of quality.
The so-called "fourth industrial revolution", also known as Industry 4.0, is transforming a wide range of industrial sectors, from manufacturing to construction. Construction 4.0 refers to the digitalization and automation of the construction industry by using technologies like building information modeling (BIM); additive manufacturing; advanced prefabrication; industrial internet of things; cloud; big data analytics; autonomous robots; as well as virtual, augmented, and mixed reality. These new technologies have the potential to further increase the productivity, quality, and safety of construction sites.
In some cases, lean construction methodologies are the basis of Construction 4.0. In other cases, Construction 4.0 may further empower lean construction. This Special Issue features a collection of new applications of Construction 4.0 as well as their interrelations with lean construction.