System Engineering and Productivity

System Engineering and Productivity

Construction 4.0 Barriers in Housing Development in Iran

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
Kasra Rahbaripour 1
Mohammadreza Pakdelfard 2
Hassan Sattari Sarbangholi 3
Nima Valizadeh 4
1 Ph.D. Student, Department of Architecture, Ta.C, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran
2 Corresponding author: Associate Professor, Department of Architecture, Ta.C, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran
3 Associate Professor, Department of Architecture and Urban Planning, Ta.C, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran
4 Assistant Professor, Department of Architecture, Ta.C, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran
10.22034/sep.2025.2060254.1320
Abstract
The housing construction industry in Iran is influenced by a multitude of factors across various dimensions, including social, economic, physical, infrastructural, and legal aspects. To enhance land use efficiency, optimize physical assets and capital, address genuine housing needs, improve the quantity and quality of housing, and protect the environment, it is imperative to adopt the principles of Construction 4.0. This study aims to identify and elucidate the barriers to achieving Construction 4.0 in the Iranian housing sector from the perspectives of key experts and stakeholders. The research employs a qualitative content analysis approach, utilizing data collected through semi-structured, in-depth, face-to-face interviews designed with open-ended questions. The research population consists of academic and technical-experiential experts, with purposive sampling applied to ensure maximum diversity in age, gender, specialization, educational level, professional background (academic and technical), and experience, to obtain comprehensive and rich insights from varied perspectives. The participants comprised 31 experts from diverse fields, including construction management, project management, architecture, civil engineering, environmental science, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, energy, industrial management, industrial design, and related disciplines. Through data conceptualization, the study identified 5 main themes, 28 sub-themes, and 105 codes. The main themes are: "socio-cultural”, "economic”, "institutional-administrative”, "legal-regulatory”, and "infrastructural”.

Highlights

  • Socio-Cultural Barriers to Adopting Construction 4.0
  • Economic and Infrastructural Challenges
  • Institutional and Legal Inefficiencies

Keywords
Industry 4.0
Construction 4.0
Housing Construction
Fourth Industrial Revolution
Qualitative Approach
Subjects

Copyright © Kasra Rahbaripour, Mohammadreza Pakdelfard, Hassan Sattari Sarbangholi, Nima Valizadeh

 

License

This article is released under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) license. Anyone is free to copy, share, translate, and adapt this article for any purpose, whether commercial or non-commercial, as long as proper citation is given to the authors and original publication.

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System Engineering and Productivity
Volume 5, Issue 4 - Serial Number 17
Serial No. 17, Winter Quarterly
Winter 2026
Pages 1-43

  • Receive Date 15 May 2025
  • Revise Date 16 July 2025
  • Accept Date 20 July 2025
  • First Publish Date 20 July 2025
  • Publish Date 22 December 2025