Principal component analysis of smart city delivery for sustainable construction in Ghana

Abstract

A paradigm shift towards sustainable urban development is represented by the building industry's adoption of smart city ideas. The construction sector can play a key part in creating cities of the future, as smart city initiatives continue to gain traction. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the approaches to deliver smart cities for sustainable development in the construction industry in Ghana, utilising principal component analysis. The study used questionnaire instrumentation and quantitative research methods. Of the 350 respondents, 317 were purposively sampled to answer the questionnaire. The study found that there are two distinct methods for delivering smart cities: integrated and collaborative service platforms (ICSPs) and technology and data-driven approaches (TDAs). The major discoveries under ICSPs include integrated service delivery platforms, collaborative governance, smart building solutions, and smart health services. Key revelations under TDAs comprise cloud computing, integrated transport systems, co-creation and citizen engagement, and data analytics and artificial intelligence. The study's conclusion is that in order to support long-term scalability, reduce redundancy, and enhance system resilience in response to growing urban demands, industry stakeholders should make investments in adaptable, modular technologies that can be easily integrated into existing infrastructure. Players in the building construction sector that support smart cities as sustainable construction practices may find the survey's findings intriguing. The current study contributes to the body of knowledge about approaches to smart city delivery in the Ghanaian construction industry, which is important, given the dearth of prior research on this topic in Ghana.