Nível das aplicações das tecnologias sustentáveis e da indústria 4.0 na indústria da construção civil brasileira

Abstract

The construction industry is a sector with a large participation in the world economy. Despite this relevance, there are two paradigms to be broken by companies in the sector: the low application of technology, and the impact on the environment. Public opinion has been pressing productive sectors to reduce their impacts on the environment, and this phenomenon is motivating the sector to implement new building systems, based on maintaining the balance between existing natural ecosystems. In this process, technologies play an important role, especially for the sector, which is one of the largest consumers of electricity and drinking water, in addition to being responsible for 30% of the extraction of natural resources and 25% of solid waste generated in the world. The objective of this study was to evaluate the relevance of sustainable technologies, that is, those based on technologies that support some of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) established by the United Nations (UN) established in 2015 in 2015 and the technologies of Industry 4.0, aiming to technological development of the sector, according to the state-of-the-art. Initially, the bibliometric research methodology was used to list the main technological applications of the civil construction industry worldwide. Afterwards, a field survey was carried out through a survey, in order to determine the level of application of these technologies in the Brazilian civil construction industry. 162 Brazilian companies in the sector participated in the research, among the largest in the sector, according to the magazine “O Empreiteiro”. At the end of the field survey, it was observed that the Brazilian sector follows the world standard in relation to the adoption of sustainable technologies and Industry 4.0, that is, a low level of technological applications in its production chain. The results indicated that 70% of the participating companies are between the two lowest levels of application of sustainable technologies and 96% of companies are in the two lowest levels of application of Industry 4.0 technologies. For the reversal of this situation, it is suggested the development of academic research, and investment in: companies specialized in technological innovations, and training of specialized professionals. It is considered necessary to mobilize companies through more investments and governments through programs focused on modernization of the sector and tax incentives. This study contributed to advances in technology management and innovation, as it evaluated the relevance of Industry 4.0 and sustainable technologies, according to the state-of-the-art, as well as their applications in the sector.