A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES AND ADVANCEMENTS IN MALAYSIA’S CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

While material selection is crucial in construction, the integration of advanced technologies is equally vital in developing more sustainable and efficient buildings. The construction industry has progressed through multiple phases of the Industrial Revolution—from mechanization in IR 1.0 to intelligent automation in IR 4.0. Despite global advancements, Malaysia’s construction sector still relies heavily on traditional methods, and the adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies remains limited. Challenges such as stakeholder scepticism, a shortage of skilled labour, and high implementation costs continue to impede widespread adoption. This paper aims to explore technological advancements relevant to Malaysia’s construction industry, with a specific focus on key IR 4.0 technologies: Building Information Modelling (BIM), Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Virtual Reality (VR), and Augmented Reality (AR). Through a comprehensive literature review and bibliometric analysis, the study highlights the benefits, features, and current implementation status of these technologies. The findings reveal that while these innovations offer significant advantages over conventional methods—such as improved efficiency, safety, and decision-making—their integration in Malaysia remains at an early stage. This review underscores the need for greater awareness, policy support, and strategic planning to advance the construction sector toward a more digital and future-ready industry.