Awareness of 3D Printing for Sustainable Construction in an Emerging Economy

Abstract

3D printing has been popular in the manufacturing industry as a means of automating processes, speeding up production, and reducing waste. It is frequently seen as a relatively new technology, even though it has been in use for more than three decades. This article aims to analyse 3D printing awareness in an emerging economy towards sustainability in the construction industry. A survey research design was used to obtain primary data from the respondents using structured questionnaires. The sample frame for the research survey comprises professionals in construction and consultancy firms such as architects, quantity surveyors, projects managers, and engineers. Mean item score, standard deviation, and factor analysis were used to analyse the data. The findings from this study show that majority of the professionals acknowledged that they were aware of the existence of 3D printing, but most of them attested that they had not utilized this technology before the survey. The study reveals that the professionals in the construction industry of the emerging economy have low awareness of 3D printing technology, therefore its practices in the construction industry of the study area are significantly low. More awareness of 3D printing technology should be raised by bodies shouldered with management and regulation of the construction industry to increase professionals' awareness and enlighten them on the benefits of adopting the technology towards sustainable construction.