RISUD Research Seminar - Construction 4.0 & Resilience : French Vision and Results Obtained

The construction sector is vital to the entire French economy. The property sector accounts for around 10% of France's GDP and 8% in terms of employment (2.1 million employees in 2015), which is in line with the European average. Revitalising, modernising and innovating the sector are essential if the French economy in general is to remain healthy.

Prof. LAFHAJ proposes to show how the construction industry has undergone several decisive stages in its history. Over time, this sector began to organise itself, and contributed to the development of the construction profession. He will show how the industry is now in its 4th revolution, while construction processes have remained largely unchanged for over 100 years.

Prof. LAFHAJ will talk about the emergence of new technologies for construction, the use of which will improve quality in this sector (IP3, Cloud, Digital Twin, Blockchain, Modular construction, AI, etc.), including building renovation, low carbon and climate constraints. Examples of innovations made for the restoration of Notre Dame de Paris will be provided. Innovation also comes from changing attitudes to the act of building. To date, many stakeholders are dissatisfied with the sheer volume of construction waste, time and cost overruns, insufficient and heterogeneous quality, low return on investment (ROI), and the considerable amount of rework leading to numerous complaints and defects. Scientific research, conducted on a global scale, is proposing tools to significantly reduce these problems. These approaches require substantial improvements in the economic, social, technological, managerial and environmental performance of construction, infrastructure and engineering projects.