Construction process technologies: a meta-analysis of Canadian research

Abstract

As one component of a broader initiative to develop a roadmap for innovation in process technologies throughout the Canadian construction industry, a survey and meta-analysis of current research and developmental activity was conducted. Twenty-two researchers were surveyed, resulting in an inventory of more than 100 research project descriptions. This dataset was used to develop a series of roadmaps of the current research and development activity. The results show a number of high-quality research initiatives underway spanning a wide range of application areas, technologies, and innovation process phases. The recommendations focus primarily on the need to continue the roadmapping process. The study has identified some of the issues that should be addressed and provided elements of the framework for ongoing strategic planning — yet it provides only a modest incremental step toward establishing overall mechanisms to harness the ongoing research activity to drive effectively the innovation process throughout the Canadian construction industry.