Offsite construction in housing: a scientometric review of information management trends and technological integration

Abstract

Purpose The global housing shortage has underscored the need for innovative solutions, such as offsite construction (OSC). Despite its potential to improve efficiency, reduce costs and enhance sustainability, the adoption of OSC has been slow due to economic, social and technical barriers. Design/methodology/approach This study conducted a bibliometric and scientometric analysis of 68 selected publications from 1995 to 2024, exploring trends in information management within OSC, particularly in housing. The analysis of the selected papers on OSC in housing revealed a growing research interest since 2009. Findings Publications have increased steadily, peaking in 2022, with Automation in Construction, Journal of Cleaner Production and Buildings emerging as the leading journals. Keyword analysis highlighted “building information modeling” and “prefabrication” as dominant themes, reflecting their crucial role in the field. The co-authorship and co-citation analyses identified Geoffrey Qiping Shen as a leading researcher, with Hong Kong and China leading in publication and citation counts, highlighting their significant impact on the field. The findings also revealed a growing interest in integrating advanced technologies, such as building information modeling (BIM), artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things (IoT), alongside a focus on sustainability, modular construction and lifecycle management. Originality/value This analysis in this study highlights key themes like BIM prefabrication and sustainability and identifies leading researchers and regions, emphasizing the integration of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence and IoT in the field. Limitations include reliance on existing publications and the exclusion of industry practices not yet widely documented. Future research should broaden its scope to include recent industry developments and regional case studies, emphasizing the need for more comprehensive information management systems to support the evolving OSC discipline.