Review of AI–IoT frameworks for modular integrated construction: Toward zero-waiting coordination
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Systematic Review
Abstract: Modular Integrated Construction (MiC) increasingly relies on real-time coordination across design, production, transportation, and installation. However, current practices remain constrained by fragmented data, inconsistent semantics, and limited cross-stage feedback. This paper examines how AI-IoT technologies can jointly support zero-waiting coordination, aiming to minimize avoidable delays and maintain consistent workflow under dynamic conditions. A mixed-review approach integrating bibliometric, systematic review, and thematic-coding was conducted on 79 articles following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. The findings organize existing advances into four functional domains: cyber-physical sensing for continuous state capture, intelligent-analytics for prediction and interpretation, semantic-integration for cross-stage data alignment, and adaptive-decision coordination for feedback-driven regulation. The review also clarifies the mechanisms that link these domains and identifies gaps that hinder the integration of processes. By synthesizing fragmented developments into a process-oriented framework, this paper enhances current understanding and provides practical insights for developing reliable AI-IoT-enabled coordination strategies in MiC.
Source: Automation in Construction
Authors: Qinghua Liu, Khoon Hwee Ah, Xiaoke Li, Kah Hui Tan
Institution: Universiti Sains Malaysia
Language: English
Subfield: Building and Construction
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $5,490
OpenAlex ID: W7154162187