Innovation Empowerment in Construction 4.0 by the CDR-Approach., 1st ed. 2024 The digital breakthrough in line with the UN SDGs.

This is a publication-based dissertation. The book examines the promotion of innovation in construction 4.0

through the CDR approach. This opens up a new scientific research field for digital breakthroughs.

It raises awareness, explains and enables access to innovative technologies such as digitalization and AI in the construction industry and highlights the associated ethical aspects. This research comes to the conclusion that the human factor forms the basis for designing a socially sustainable digital transformation. The new findings show how innovative technology can support people more efficiently, productively, safely and meaningfully. It specifically addresses responsibility in the corporate environment and develops the key factors for success without neglecting the necessary legal, political, social and educational framework.

The aim of this book is to improve and strengthen the transfer of knowledge between research and practice on the basis of scientific communication without language barriers. In this way, the book offers broader access for readers, not only for experts, researchers, designers, implementers, doers and visionaries. The book encourages an interdisciplinary, integrative and constructive dialogue in order to avoid disciplinary silo thinking.

The diversity of potential and innovations in the industry is offset by the industry's enormous responsibility to use sustainable, human-controlled AI to achieve the 17 UN SDGs and climate goals and to increase its global competitiveness on the basis of a European quality seal.

Surprise and aha effects are inevitable. The book invites key players, everyone involved and everyone who sets new standards, to help shape the digital change in the construction industry and become innovative. The book promotes a new culture of thinking and learning and strengthens the entrepreneurial will to innovate.

Opening a new gap in scientific knowledge with this book ultimately leads to a new discipline. In addition, it expands the interdisciplinary dialogue around the globe to find new ways to assume corporate digital responsibility and adapt the framework conditions.

The book provides new ideas for defining individual digital corporate strategies.

1. Introduction.- 2. Scientific approach.- 3. Calls for Action.- 4. Cumulative Part of Dissertation.- 5. Discussion.- 6. Results - Digitization and AI need new Culture of Thinking in Construction 4.0.- 7. Limitations and Future work.- 8. Conclusion.

Bianca Weber-Lewerenz studied civil engineering in Constance, Mainz and Stellenbosch, South Africa. 

She worked on construction projects in Germany and abroad. 

For seven years she has worked and lived in Beijing, China as freelancer, and founded her own construction consulting company "Bianca Weber-Lewerenz Engineering". From 2019 to 2023 and in close collaboration with Prof. Marzia Traverso (PhD) at the Institute for Sustainability in Construction (INaB) at RWTH Aachen University, Germany, following her dissertation project, she pursued research on the topic of "The corporate digital responsibility in construction - Ethical principles in dealing with digitalization and AI".

It shows the approach, methodology and challenges in the investigation

It shows how bridging the gap between construction and digitization can succeed

The book presents the research gap "CDR in construction" scientifically for the first time