Moving Beyond the Buzzwords: A Critical Reality Check on Construction 5.0 Readiness in Smart Cities and Sustainable Human Settlements

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Rotondwa Nemakhavhani, Nolwazi Qumbisa and Sizolwakhe Mtetwa

DOI: https://doi.org/10.64755/YNPE6508

Keywords: Built Environment, Construction Industry, Digital Transformation, Governanace, Social Equity, Transformation.

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ABSTRACT

PURPOSE

This paper critically examines the practical readiness of South Africa’s construction sector, in particular the Built Environment, to implement Construction 5.0 in alignment with the broader ambitions of Smart Cities and Sustainable Human Settlements. It challenges prevailing techno-optimism by interrogating whether the necessary infrastructure, governance frameworks, and socio-technical systems are in place to enable a meaningful and inclusive transition toward Construction 5.0.

DESIGN / METHODOLOGY / APPROACH

A Bibliometric Anylisis was conducted followingthe PRISMA framework. Peer-reviewed studies published between 2019 and 2025 were sourced from leading academic databases including ScienceDirect, Scopus, and Web of Science. Thematic analysis was applied to identify recurring challenges, implementation gaps, and contextual realities influencing Construction 5.0 adoption in South African urban development.

FINDINGS

The review reveals a persistent disconnect between technological ambitions and ground-level readiness. Although advanced tools such as AI, IoT, digital twins, and robotics are widely endorsed, implementation is constrained by policy inertia, infrastructure backlogs, limited institutional capacity, and underdeveloped human capital. Social inclusion remains underemphasized, especially in housing and basic service delivery, and is further complicated by entrenched socio-political and cultural divisions.

RESEARCH LIMITATIONS / IMPLICATIONS

This study relies exclusively on published academic literature and may not capture undocumented innovations or informal sector dynamics. Future studies should include empirical investigations to validate findings in real-world contexts.

PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS

Findings from this review can inform context-responsive governance and policy frameworks, guide investment priorities, and support more realistic planning processes that reflect on-the-ground capabilities and socio-economic conditions.

ORIGINAL VALUE

This paper shifts the discourse from aspirational rhetoric to critical insight, offering a framework for evaluating Construction 5.0 readiness that supports inclusive, sustainable, and context-aware urban transformation.