Abstract
Automated prefabrication (prefab) of residential buildings offers technological transformation and a solution to housing affordability issues. Despite its potential, adoption has been slow. This study investigates the development and barriers to automated prefab in the residential sector using a three-stage mixed research method: in-depth literature reviews, a questionnaire survey of industry practitioners, and expert validation. SPSS-based factor analyses and Chi-square assessments of research hypotheses were applied to empirical datasets.The findings revealed four stages of automation in prefabrication. Stages 1 and 2,characterized by basic and intensive mechanization, account for 65% of usage. Stage3, semi-automation with Computer Numerical Control (CNC) and Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM), shows a 30% utilization rate. Stage 4, involving full automation with AI-driven manufacturing, is least prevalent at 5% in Australia. Adoption rates vary across prefab types, with whole building prefab at 13% and panelized prefab being the most preferred at 53%.
The study highlights that large firms (over 199 employees) significantly impact the adoption rate of automation and the type of prefab used in the industry. It identified 22 barriers to transitioning from labour-intensive prefab production to full automation, which were consolidated into ten socio-economic (SocEcon) and technological (Tech) themes. Post-extraction Reproduced Communality (PeRC) analyses show Tech barriers have a 45% influence on adoption, while SocEcon barriers account for 31%.The most influential SocEcon barrier, at 26%, is the risk-averse attitude of clients and designers towards new technology.
Chi-square-based reliability and validity assessments of the research hypotheses show a 95% confidence level in the study findings. Insights from industry practitioners and experts contributed to developing a roadmap to guide the implementation of these findings. The proposed roadmap aims to accelerate the adoption of automated prefab production in the Australian residential sector, leveraging its benefits to address housing affordability and acute housing shortages.
| Date of Award | 13 Feb 2025 |
|---|---|
| Original language | English |
| Supervisor | Jasper Mbachu (Supervisor) & Matthew Moorhead (Supervisor) |