Smart Construction and Industry 5.0: Renewable Energy Integration, Digitalization, Robotics, and Sustainability

This book addresses the profound changes facing the construction sector to provide a comprehensive and forward-looking exploration of how renewable energy systems and intelligent technologies are reshaping the construction industry towards a more sustainable, resilient, and cost-effective future.

The authors begin by examining the global development of solar, wind, and hydropower systems, emphasizing their potential to decarbonize the built environment when effectively integrated into building and infrastructure design. The discussion extends to the role of construction practices in advancing sustainability, showcasing real-world projects such as net-zero and energy-positive buildings that exemplify the application of renewable technologies in modern construction. The book explores the impact of Industry 4.0 and Construction 5.0, presenting how digital tools such as artificial intelligence, IoT, robotics, blockchain, and big data are transforming design processes, site operations, energy management, and performance monitoring. It also addresses how automation and human–robot collaboration are redefining productivity, safety, and workforce dynamics in construction. Central to the book is the integration of building information modelling as a collaborative platform for planning, simulating, and managing renewable energy facilities. It further introduces Life Cycle Cost Analysis as a critical decision-making framework, linking economic viability with environmental performance across a project’s lifespan. The research-informed analysis and practical case examples provided throughout allow readers to implement intelligent and low-carbon solutions in the built environment.

As this book provides valuable insights on technical, financial, and energy resource issues, it is an invaluable resource for researchers and anyone in the construction industry who is seeking to improve sustainability, productivity, and efficiency in their projects. It is especially beneficial for architects and designers, engineers, project managers, construction managers, and contractors, among others.

Author Biographies

Abdul Mateen Khan is a Graduate Research Assistant at Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Malaysia. His research focuses on building information modelling (BIM), digital construction, safety, and intelligent monitoring systems. He specializes in integrating BIM with IoT and AI to enable real-time safety and performance management in construction environments. His work has contributed to BIM-based energy optimization, digital life cycle tracking, and ISO 19650–based frameworks. With over 825 citations, an h-index of 17, and an i10-index of 20, his research supports the advancement of AI-driven safety and decision-making systems in the construction sector.

is an Associate Professor in Civil and Environmental Engineering at Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Malaysia. His expertise includes digital construction technologies, life cycle costing, safety, and sustainability. With over 280 publications, an h-index of 47, and approximately 7,800 citations (as of mid-2025), his work has influenced areas such as AI-enabled safety systems, BIM integration, and automated project monitoring. He is an active contributor to research on the digitization of construction practices in emerging economies.

is a PhD candidate in Civil and Environmental Engineering at Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Malaysia. His research centres on using computer vision, particularly action recognition, pose estimation, and deep learning, to detect unsafe behaviours on construction sites. His goal is to develop intelligent systems that proactively enhance safety through real-time monitoring and automated hazard detection, contributing to AI-integrated safety frameworks in the construction industry.

is a Civil Engineer specializing in Construction Engineering and Management, with extensive experience in Research and Development. He has published numerous research articles and focuses his research on Digital and Automated Construction. In addition to his articles, Dr. Musarat is the author of several books and holds multiple patents in this field.