COVID-19: Key global impacts on the construction industry and proposed coping strategies

Abstract

The construction industry is an essential tributary of the global economy and an important resource in the overall product of the local economies. In December 2019, the construction industry was exposed to a shock beyond the local level as a result of COVID-19, which was classified by the World Health Organization as a global pandemic after its rapid and sudden spread in multiple countries. The nature of the effects of COVID-19 on the construction industry varied according to the diversity of its projects. The pandemic raised many challenges at the level of the workforce, low or halting productivity, production time and costs, as well as disputes in contractual formulas for construction projects. But some of the effects were more severe and caused consequences for all stakeholders in the construction sector. Researchers and those interested in the construction industry have dealt with the repercussions of COVID-19, but most of the publications focused on studying the impact of the pandemic on the local construction industry, so this paper attempts to shed light on the most prominent effects of COVID-19 on the construction industry around the world, and which were repeated with high frequency in previous studies and reports by following the methodology of review, analysis and selection, and then suggesting optimal coping strategies to reduce the damages of these effects.

Impact of Covid-19 Pandemic Quarantine on Civil Engineers’ Performance and Projects’ Construction Delay

“…the maximum responses were agreed to by 56 (37.34%), which mostly work in the field and private sectors. The obtained results agree with the published research by Husien et al (2021). Additionally, ILO (2021) confirms the yielded results from engineers in the present research.…”

“…This time the maximum answer was neutral (38%), but again, most of them were field engineers working in the private sector. Husien et al (2021) reported that the pandemic increased numerous challenges at the level of the workforce, low or halting productivity, and production time and costs. The current results agree with published work by Husien et al (2021).…”

“…Husien et al (2021) reported that the pandemic increased numerous challenges at the level of the workforce, low or halting productivity, and production time and costs. The current results agree with published work by Husien et al (2021).…”

Applications of Drone Technology in Construction Projects: A Systematic Literature Review

“…Researchers also explained how to use DT to manage disasters and risks related to the pandemic in the construction industry Zhou and Gheisari (2018). A recent study focused on the future directions of drone routing research, and the findings of this research have been used in many drone applications utilizing various models and kinds Husien et al (2021). In a scenario with a labor scarcity, it is essential to discover strategies to enhance construction sites' efficiency and lower the necessary labor force.…”

Contractual implications related to the construction industry in pandemic situations: A review of case laws

“…The world has been affected by crises such as Spanish Flu in 1918, Asian Flu in 1957, and Hong Kong Flu in 1968 during the last century, and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome -SARS in 2002, Swine flu in 2009, and Ebola in 2014 during near past (Vithana et al, 2020). COVID-19 is the prevailing crisis, announced as a pandemic by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and expeditious diffusion worldwide (Husien, et al, 2021). Kiraz and Ustun (2020) stated that the world had faced a critical situation where none could foresee its impact.…”