COVID-19 impacts on the AEC industry with a focus on Africa
Journal of Engineering, Design and Technology
ISSN: 1726-0531
Article publication date: 21 October 2022
Issue publication date: 24 March 2023
Abstract
Purpose
The unexpected spread of COVID-19 rapidly switched from a health crisis to an economic one. The Architectural, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry experienced drastic impacts, especially in Africa. Several studies investigated COVID-19 impacts on the AEC industry, but very few were conducted in Africa. This study aims to cover this gap, address detailed overview of negative and positive impacts of COVID-19 on the AEC field, especially in the different African regions, and highlight their causes and the measures taken to overcome them.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors combined a Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses-based Systematic Literature Review (SLR) and a survey involving 87 AEC companies operating in Africa. The SLR initially used four scientific databases; however, considering the limited Africa-related found data, institutional and governmental databases were also included.
Findings
Globally, implementing the mandated restrictive measures against COVID-19 caused significant losses for developers, designers and contractors but helped the information and communication technologies operators to thrive. In the five African regions, the AEC industry experienced 22 heavy impacts that can be split into four categories: financial, managerial/strategic, operational and opportunities. This paper thoughtfully explains the causes of COVID-19 impacts and presents the undertaken measures by the African private and public sectors to overcome them. Generally, the African AEC industry lost 51% of the total sales in 2020.
Originality/value
This paper contains all aspects related to health hazard influences on the AEC industry, especially in Africa. Researchers and decision-makers may use it to build new approaches or strategies related to risk management or design technological solutions.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors thank the Moroccan AEC operator HBMD Development and Management for funding some paid-access data and US Fulbright program.
Citation
Bouhmoud, H., Loudyi, D., Azhar, S. and Farah, M. (2023), "COVID-19 impacts on the AEC industry with a focus on Africa", Journal of Engineering, Design and Technology, Vol. 21 No. 2, pp. 585-603. https://doi.org/10.1108/JEDT-12-2021-0721
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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