article · Alexandria Engineering Journal
Modular construction is recognised for advancing sustainability and is established in developed economies, but its adoption remains limited in developing countries. Research investigated twenty-one enablers that could drive the uptake of modular construction for residential building projects in developing regions, focusing on Egypt. Using exploratory factor analysis, these enablers were grouped into four core components: optimisation, planning and management, preparation, and promotion and improvement. A subsequent fuzzy synthetic evaluation ranked these components to determine their relative performance. Optimisation was identified as the highest-performing category, whereas promotion and improvement ranked the lowest. Together, these results form a structured roadmap designed to guide the Egyptian construction sector towards modernising residential delivery through modular construction practices.
Modular construction can significantly advance sustainable development, yet developing nations often struggle with its implementation. By identifying and ranking the most critical enablers, particularly operational optimisation, this work offers clear priorities for industry stakeholders and urban planners working to modernise residential housing delivery and improve construction performance in emerging economies.
The research provides an applied roadmap intended for construction sector decision-makers, project managers, and residential developers in Egypt. Because the findings outline strategic planning priorities rather than a physical product, the work sits at the applied research level and can immediately inform policy, organisational investment, and process optimisation for companies transitioning to modular building methods.
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The use of modular construction (MC) is well-established in developed countries and is known to promote sustainability. However, MC is not widely utilised in developing countries. To address this issue, a study was conducted to identify enablers that can increase the adoption of MC in developing countries, specifically for residential projects. A survey was conducted to determine the relative value of 21 enablers that boost the adoption of MC. The data collected was analysed using Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), which classified the enablers into four main components: Optimization, Planning and Management, Preparation, and Promotion and Improvement. Then, Fuzzy Synthetic Evaluation (FSE) was employed to rank these four components, where it was found that “Optimization” is the top performing component while “ Promotion and Improvement ” is the least performing component. The study's results provide a roadmap for the Egyptian construction industry to adopt MC, which can improve the construction sector, particularly in residential construction. Additionally, the findings of this research help fill a gap in knowledge about the enablers that can enhance the use of MC in developing countries.
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DOI: 10.1016/j.aej.2023.07.026
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