Mapping the digital transformation of AEC industry: Content analysis of digital public policy in China

Governments arounds the world are relying on digital policies as a strategic tool to promote digital transformation objectives within the society. This study aims to investigate the evolutionary patterns and trends of China's digital public policies in the architectural, engineering, and constr...

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Main Authors: Yumiao Yang, Sujuan Zhang, Yuanyuan Hua, Hua Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-03-01
Series:Developments in the Built Environment
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666165925000213
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author Yumiao Yang
Sujuan Zhang
Yuanyuan Hua
Hua Wang
author_facet Yumiao Yang
Sujuan Zhang
Yuanyuan Hua
Hua Wang
author_sort Yumiao Yang
collection DOAJ
description Governments arounds the world are relying on digital policies as a strategic tool to promote digital transformation objectives within the society. This study aims to investigate the evolutionary patterns and trends of China's digital public policies in the architectural, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry. Based on the policy instrument theory, the study develops a three-dimensional analysis framework of “policy topic - policy instrument - stakeholder” to analyze digital public policies. A total number of 56 policies, issued by the central government from 2001 to 2023 in China, were selected as data for content analysis. Using the Dynamic Topic Modeling, six main topics were identified from the texts: informatization development, smart construction, construction industrialization, BIM technology application, prefabricated building, and digital workforce. The results indicate that environment instruments have become central tools for the government to promote digital transformation. Stakeholders involved in digital public policies have remained relatively stable, with the government as the primary actor. The study sheds lights on the evolutionary path of digital public policies within the AEC industry in China. The findings provide a reference for digital policy improvement in the AEC industry and policy formulation in other developing countries for digital transformation.
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institution Kabale University
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publishDate 2025-03-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series Developments in the Built Environment
spelling doaj-art-2f26f7b25da44dd0893d92c4c57a0d2d2025-08-20T03:42:57ZengElsevierDevelopments in the Built Environment2666-16592025-03-012110062110.1016/j.dibe.2025.100621Mapping the digital transformation of AEC industry: Content analysis of digital public policy in ChinaYumiao Yang0Sujuan Zhang1Yuanyuan Hua2Hua Wang3Department of Civil Engineering, School of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian Province, 361000, ChinaSchool of Project Management, Faculty of Engineering, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2037, Australia; Corresponding author.School of Urban Economics and Management, Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Beijing, 100044, ChinaNational Center of Technology Innovation for Green and Low-Carbon Building, Beijing, 100088, ChinaGovernments arounds the world are relying on digital policies as a strategic tool to promote digital transformation objectives within the society. This study aims to investigate the evolutionary patterns and trends of China's digital public policies in the architectural, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry. Based on the policy instrument theory, the study develops a three-dimensional analysis framework of “policy topic - policy instrument - stakeholder” to analyze digital public policies. A total number of 56 policies, issued by the central government from 2001 to 2023 in China, were selected as data for content analysis. Using the Dynamic Topic Modeling, six main topics were identified from the texts: informatization development, smart construction, construction industrialization, BIM technology application, prefabricated building, and digital workforce. The results indicate that environment instruments have become central tools for the government to promote digital transformation. Stakeholders involved in digital public policies have remained relatively stable, with the government as the primary actor. The study sheds lights on the evolutionary path of digital public policies within the AEC industry in China. The findings provide a reference for digital policy improvement in the AEC industry and policy formulation in other developing countries for digital transformation.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666165925000213Digital transformationContent analysisDynamic topic modelingPolicy instrument theoryStakeholder
spellingShingle Yumiao Yang
Sujuan Zhang
Yuanyuan Hua
Hua Wang
Mapping the digital transformation of AEC industry: Content analysis of digital public policy in China
Developments in the Built Environment
Digital transformation
Content analysis
Dynamic topic modeling
Policy instrument theory
Stakeholder
title Mapping the digital transformation of AEC industry: Content analysis of digital public policy in China
title_full Mapping the digital transformation of AEC industry: Content analysis of digital public policy in China
title_fullStr Mapping the digital transformation of AEC industry: Content analysis of digital public policy in China
title_full_unstemmed Mapping the digital transformation of AEC industry: Content analysis of digital public policy in China
title_short Mapping the digital transformation of AEC industry: Content analysis of digital public policy in China
title_sort mapping the digital transformation of aec industry content analysis of digital public policy in china
topic Digital transformation
Content analysis
Dynamic topic modeling
Policy instrument theory
Stakeholder
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666165925000213
work_keys_str_mv AT yumiaoyang mappingthedigitaltransformationofaecindustrycontentanalysisofdigitalpublicpolicyinchina
AT sujuanzhang mappingthedigitaltransformationofaecindustrycontentanalysisofdigitalpublicpolicyinchina
AT yuanyuanhua mappingthedigitaltransformationofaecindustrycontentanalysisofdigitalpublicpolicyinchina
AT huawang mappingthedigitaltransformationofaecindustrycontentanalysisofdigitalpublicpolicyinchina