Digital-Enabled Off-Site Construction for Disaster-Resilient Built Environments: A Systematic Review and Conceptual Framework

Abstract

The increasing frequency and intensity of climate-related disasters present significant challenges for the resilience of the built environment. Conventional construction practices often struggle to respond effectively to these challenges due to their resource-intensive nature, lengthy project timelines, and limited adaptability. Off-site construction (OSC), including modular and prefabricated systems, has emerged as a promising approach for improving construction efficiency, reducing waste, and accelerating infrastructure delivery. At the same time, digital technologies such as Building Information Modelling (BIM), digital twins, and Internet of Things (IoT) systems are transforming the planning, design, and management of built assets. Despite growing interest in these developments, research addressing the intersection of digitalisation, off-site construction, and disaster resilience remains fragmented. This study presents a systematic review of literature examining how digital technologies can enhance the resilience and sustainability of off-site construction systems. The review synthesises existing knowledge on disaster resilience in the built environment and identifies emerging opportunities for integrating digital technologies with OSC practices. The findings reveal that although resilience has been widely discussed in policy and academic discourse, practical implementation within construction delivery remains limited due to institutional, technical, and knowledge barriers. The paper proposes an integrated conceptual framework linking digital technologies, off-site construction, and resilient infrastructure development. The study contributes to ongoing discussions on sustainable and resilient construction by highlighting pathways for integrating digital innovation with modern construction methods to support disaster-resilient built environments.