Advancing Sustainable 3D-Printed Concrete: A Bibliometric Study on Financing Housing Options

SARChl in Sustainable Construction Management and Leadership in the Built Environment, Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, Department of Construction Management and Quantity Surveying, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa

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Abstract

The emergence of 3D-printed concrete technology presents promising opportunities for sustainable housing solutions. However, the limited knowledge of financing mechanisms poses a considerable barrier to these projects' widespread implementation and scalability. This paper addressed this gap through a bibliometric analysis focusing on financing options for advancing sustainable 3D-printed concrete housing, particularly emphasising options accessible to end-users. Forty-four documents were retrieved from the Scopus database, reflecting diverse perspectives on the intersection of 3D printing technology and housing finance. Following a rigorous filtration process based on language and subject area criteria, forty- two documents were deemed feasible for inclusion in the study. Furthermore, VOSviewer software was utilised to analyse the forty-two documents to create a co-occurrence map and clusters. The findings revealed limited insights into the financing options for sustainable housing projects in South Africa. The originality of this study lies in its bibliometric approach, which offered a comprehensive analysis of the scholarly works surrounding financing options for sustainable 3D-printed concrete housing, serving as a valuable resource for stakeholders interested in fostering innovation and sustainability within the construction industry, particularly end users who may lack the necessary finances to utilise this technology. This research enhances the knowledge gap regarding the challenges and opportunities linked to financing sustainable housing initiatives by highlighting key themes and gaps. Additionally, this study shed light on potential pathways for policymakers, practitioners, and investors to facilitate mainstreaming 3D-printed concrete housing through targeted financial interventions by looking into creative finance schemes, regulatory frameworks, and the socio-economic impacts.