Abstract
Offsite construction (OSC) delivers multiple products that vary in design and building complexity. Considering the growing prevalence of OSC, a systematic categorization of OSC types can offer operational and macroeconomic benefits to the construction industry. The purpose of this study is to develop an OSC typology through a systematic process, as existing studies do not present a rigorously evaluated typology that suits the modern OSC context. The research addresses the following research question: what are the distinct characteristics of unique OSC types that have emerged through the adoption of Industry 4.0-based technological advancements? Due to the rapid advancement of production and construction technologies, the existing OSC classifications are becoming outdated. As such, a detailed review of OSC technologies was conducted which enabled the identification of OSC categories: components, panels, pods, modules, complete buildings, and flat-pack (foldable structure). A series of case studies was then reviewed to explore and analyze the relevance of these OSC types in practice. It was then subjected to a Delphi-based multi-level expert forum to develop a modern and future-proof OSC typology. The rigorous process validated, defined, and delineated the boundaries between the OSC types. The research confirmed that OSC types can be broadly categorized as volumetric (pods, modules, complete buildings) and non-volumetric (components, panels, foldable structure). The results indicated that OSC skills vary with the complexity of OSC types, and that lightweight steel and timber are the most common materials.
Highlights
Received: 18 November 2021Offsite construction (OSC) has been in existence for centuries, and it has evolved through different terminologies and taxonomies [1]
The research addresses the following research question: what are the distinct characteristics of unique OSC types that have emerged through the adoption of Industry 4.0-based technological advancements? This research aims to develop an OSC typology by structuring and validating the pre-identified OSC classifications
A case study review was conducted using publicly available project data to confirm the applicability of the preliminary typology in actual OSC projects
Summary
Received: 18 November 2021Offsite construction (OSC) has been in existence for centuries, and it has evolved through different terminologies and taxonomies [1]. Since the prefabricated pavilion roof constructed in 1772, and Manning’s Portable Colonial Cottage constructed in 1833 [3], OSC has been an integral element of industrialization [4], modularization [5], mechanization [6], and digitalization [7]. Was used to refer to several terms, including OSC. Gibb [11] introduced component manufacture and sub-assembly, non-volumetric preassembly, volumetric pre-assembly, and modular/complete building under the umbrella term of OSC. Various researchers adopted this OSC classification to match their research purposes. These published classifications are based on industry practices and theoretical assumptions rather than a rigorous systematic evaluation
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