TY - JOUR
T1 - Investigating the impacts of COVID-19 on the built environment
T2 - The Fourth Industrial Revolution application’s role via unexplored approach
AU - Ebekozien, Andrew
AU - Ahmed, Mohamed Ahmed Hafez
AU - Thwala, Wellington Didibhuku
AU - Aigbavboa, Clinton
AU - Samsurijan, Mohamad Shaharudin
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 by author(s).
PY - 2024
Y1 - 2024
N2 - Studies show that Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies can enhance compliance with COVID-19 guidelines within the parties in the construction industry in the future and mitigate job loss. It implies that mitigating job loss improves the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 1 (SDG 1) (eliminate poverty). There is a paucity of literature concerning 4IR technologies application and COVID-19 impact on South Africa’s construction industry. Thus, this paper investigates the impacts of the pandemic on the sector and the roles of digital technologies in mitigating job loss in future pandemics. Data were collected via virtual semi-structured interviews. The participants proffered unexplored insights into the impact of the pandemic on the sector and the possible roles that 4IR technology can play in mitigating the spread of the virus within the sector. Findings show that the sector was hit, especially the low-income earners, threatens to achieve Goal 1, despite government institutions’ intervention, such as economic support programmes, health and safety guidelines awareness, and medical facilities. Findings group the emerged impacts into health and safety, environmental, economic, productivity, social, and legal and insurance issues in South Africa. The study shows that technology can be advantageous to improving achieving Goal 1 in a pandemic era due to limited job loss.
AB - Studies show that Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies can enhance compliance with COVID-19 guidelines within the parties in the construction industry in the future and mitigate job loss. It implies that mitigating job loss improves the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 1 (SDG 1) (eliminate poverty). There is a paucity of literature concerning 4IR technologies application and COVID-19 impact on South Africa’s construction industry. Thus, this paper investigates the impacts of the pandemic on the sector and the roles of digital technologies in mitigating job loss in future pandemics. Data were collected via virtual semi-structured interviews. The participants proffered unexplored insights into the impact of the pandemic on the sector and the possible roles that 4IR technology can play in mitigating the spread of the virus within the sector. Findings show that the sector was hit, especially the low-income earners, threatens to achieve Goal 1, despite government institutions’ intervention, such as economic support programmes, health and safety guidelines awareness, and medical facilities. Findings group the emerged impacts into health and safety, environmental, economic, productivity, social, and legal and insurance issues in South Africa. The study shows that technology can be advantageous to improving achieving Goal 1 in a pandemic era due to limited job loss.
KW - built environment
KW - digital technology
KW - feasible solutions
KW - impacts
KW - pandemic
KW - SDG 1
KW - South Africa
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85202699599&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.24294/jipd.v8i8.4967
DO - 10.24294/jipd.v8i8.4967
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85202699599
SN - 2572-7923
VL - 8
JO - Journal of Infrastructure, Policy and Development
JF - Journal of Infrastructure, Policy and Development
IS - 8
M1 - 4967
ER -