Reducing Paper Waste within the Construction Industry using the Internet of Things

Sustainable construction is pushing for the reduction of waste throughout the industry. One such waste is paper use, with the construction industry remaining largely manual and paper-based, despite the advancement of digital technologies such as the Internet of Things. This research aimed to investigate paper use within the construction industry and how the Internet of Things can be applied to reduce that usage. The literature review showed the construction sector lagged behind other sectors, such as healthcare, when it came to reducing paper use through the Internet of Things, costing construction companies annually in printing and managing paperwork. This research used a mixed-method approach, relying on a short survey of over 30 management professionals, and interviews with six people in high-level management positions in the province of Munster, Republic of Ireland. Results confirmed the overuse of paper on all sites that survey and interview respondents worked on, with 56% of survey respondents preferring hard copies of construction documentation over digital copies. Approximately, 57% of survey respondents had strategies in place (e.g., print policies, paperless meetings) to reduce that usage, with only 34% of all respondents believing those strategies were effective. All of those interviewed believed the use of quick response codes as part of an overall management strategy involving the Internet of Things can effectively reduce paper use on site. This is because quick response codes are easy to generate, can be linked to digital files and easily used to modify those files. Future research should focus on investigating the effect of each of these technologies and management strategies on paper use in construction.