Impact of 3D Printing on the Overall Project Success of Residential Construction Projects Using Structural Equation Modelling

• Published in: International journal of environmental research and public health Vol. 20; no. 5; p. 3800
• Main Authors: Waqar, Ahsan, Othman, Idris, Pomares, Juan Carlos
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 21-02-2023; MDPI
• Subjects: 3-D printers; 3D printing; Analysis; Architects; Architecture; Automation; Construction accidents & safety; Construction costs; Construction engineering; Construction Industry; Efficiency; Engineering management; Environmental protection; Factor analysis; Health aspects; House construction; Housing; Industrial project management; Latent Class Analysis; Malaysia; Manufacturing; Medical care, Cost of; Modelling; Multivariate statistical analysis; Payback periods; Printing; Printing, Three-Dimensional; Project engineering; Project management; Public health; Public safety; R&D; Research & development; Residential areas; Residential buildings; Safety; Safety and security measures; Safety regulations; Software; Structural equation modeling; Success; Sustainability; Malaysia; overall project success (ops); residential construction in Malaysia; environmental protection; 3D printing; public health
• ISSN: 1660-4601; 1661-7827; 1660-4601
• DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20053800

After a decade of research and development, 3D printing is now an established technique in the construction sector, complete with its own set of accepted standards. The use of 3D printing in construction might potentially improve the outcome of the project as a whole. However, traditional strategies are often used in the residential construction industry in Malaysia, which causes serious public safety and health issues along with a negative impact on the environment. In the context of project management, overall project success (OPS) has five dimensions, such as cost, time, quality, safety, and environment. Understanding the role of 3D printing in relation to OPS dimensions in Malaysian residential construction projects would allow construction professionals to adopt 3D printing more easily. The aim of the study was to find the impact of 3D construction printing on OPS while considering the implications for all five dimensions. Fifteen professionals were interviewed to first evaluate and summarise the impact factors of 3D printing using the current literature. Then, a pilot survey was conducted, and the results were checked using exploratory factor analysis (EFA). The feasibility of 3D printing in the building sector was investigated by surveying industry experts. Partial least squares structural equation modelling was used to investigate and validate the fundamental structure and linkages between 3D printing and OPS (PLS-SEM). A strong correlation was found between 3D printing in residential projects and OPS. Highly positive implications are indicated by the environmental and safety dimensions of OPS. Malaysian decision-makers may look to the outcomes of introducing 3D printing into the residential construction industry as a modern method for increasing environmental sustainability, public health and safety, reducing cost and time, and increasing the quality of construction work. With this study's findings in hand, construction engineering management in Malaysia's residential building sector might benefit from a deeper understanding of how 3D printing is used for improving environmental compliance, public health and safety, and project scope.