The architecture, engineering, construction, and operations (AECO) industry is at a crossroads. Long considered refractory to information technology, the industry has undergone a profound change in recent years as a result of innovative technologies. On the one hand, the increasing rate of adoption of technological approaches such as building information modeling (BIM) suggests a salutary digital transformation, making it possible to bring sustainable solutions to recurring problems in the industry. On the other hand, the large mismatch of practices and resources between the large AECO firms and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and the wide variety of proposed technologies requires a good understanding of both practices and technologies, to offer the best solutions, adapted to the real needs of industry stakeholders. The emergence of construction 4.0, an integrative concept, whose scientific contours are not yet the subject of any consensus, is a unique opportunity to find a coherent complementarity between the main technological approaches, while creating the environment necessary for better productivity and more sustainable buildings in terms of energy and materials consumption. This Special Issue will bring together recent advances in the use of Construction 4.0 tools and processes for a sustainable built environment. It not only a question of taking stock of the latest technological developments, but also of offering a better understanding of organizational and policy-related issues. This is particularly important since many public bodies and professional associations are trying to position themselves to define coherent Construction 4.0 strategies and to take actions to support the construction industry at the national or regional levels. In this context, the role of scientific research is crucial. Researchers are, thus, also working on defining roadmaps and research strategies to effectively support the business needs. Therefore, through this Special Issue, we must try to answer questions that are as difficult as they are important: What does the fourth industrial revolution mean for the construction industry? How do construction 4.0 technologies (can) contribute to shaping a more resilient and sustainable built environment? What should be the priorities in the management of technological, organizational, and policy-related issues? How can these issues be managed and addressed on a global scale?
Keywords: Construction 4.0; Sustainable built environment; Ubiquitous technologies; Resilient construction; Industry 4.0.