ASSESSING THE EFFECTS OF 3D-PRINTED CONCRETE FOR SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION: THE STAKEHOLDERS’ PERSPECTIVE

With the rising cost of construction and environmental concerns, the emergence of 3Dprinted concrete is considered a sustainable alternative. This study aims to empirically validate this standpoint in emerging economies by assessing the effects of 3D-printed concrete on material efficiency, waste reduction, and carbon footprint in the Nigerian construction industry. A post-positivist philosophical approach guided a quantitative research methodology employing a questionnaire survey for this study. The population consisted of construction managers, architects, civil engineers, researchers focusing on 3D printing technologies, and policymakers involved in sustainable development or construction regulations. Using the snowballing sampling technique, 380 questionnaires were distributed online; 253 copies were retrieved and used for the analysis. The mean scores indicated a generally positive perception among respondents regarding the benefits of 3D-printed structures. The Kruskal-Wallis H test outcome revealed that the respondents’ opinions differed significantly since most p-values were less than 0.05. The study revealed that 3D printing has significant potential to enhance sustainability in building projects by improving material efficiency and reducing waste in developing countries. The study recommends financial incentives to 3D printing users from the government. It also recommends establishing regulatory frameworks tailored to 3Dprinted structures, leading to the attainment of the UN-SDGs.