Modelling the adoption of Internet of things (IoT) for sustainable construction in a developing economy

PurposeThe need to improve sustainable construction with the appropriate technology adoption in the fourth and fifth industrial revolutions cannot be overemphasized. This study modelled the adoption of Internet of things (IoT) technologies in the construction industry to improve sustainable construction. Consequently, the study would assist construction stakeholders and policymakers in achieving sustainable construction through concerted efforts toward improving IoT adoption.Design/methodology/approachThe study obtained the IoT technologies and the challenges of IoT adoption in the construction industry through a literature review. Subsequently, the awareness (knowledge of the existence and uses) of IoT technologies, the significance of the challenges and the level of adoption of the IoT technologies were tested on construction stakeholders in Kigali with a structured questionnaire. Consequently, a structural equation model of IoT adoption was developed.FindingsThe structural equation model indicates the relationship between the awareness, challenges and adoption of IoT technologies. It equally describes the effect sizes of the awareness and challenges of IoT on the adoption of IoT technologies.Research limitations/implicationsThis study is beneficial to construction stakeholders as it portrays the exclusive impacts of the awareness and the challenges of IoT technologies on the adoption of IoT. The study also benefits the government and policymakers as it provides a basis for intensifying efforts to create awareness and mitigate the challenges of IoT adoption for sustainable construction. The study also provides a basis for future studies on IoT adoption in the construction industry.Originality/valueThere are several studies on the adoption of IoT. There is however scarcity of studies on how the awareness and the challenges of IoT technologies impact the adoption of IoT in the construction industry. Thus, this study bridges the gap by modelling the adoption of IoT technologies for improved sustainable construction.