Modular and prefabricated construction in civil engineering projects.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63618/omd/revinvlid/v1/n2/12Keywords:
modular construction, prefabrication, civil engineering, industrialized construction, sustainabilityAbstract
The need to improve productivity, reduce waste, and minimize the environmental impacts of construction has increased interest in modular and prefabricated systems in Ecuador and Latin America, although their adoption remains limited by economic, regulatory, logistical, and technical constraints. The objective of this study was to analyze the impact of these systems on the performance of civil engineering projects. A qualitative, documentary, non-experimental, longitudinal, and descriptive study was conducted, based on a thematic analysis of scientific literature and technical reports published between 2020 and 2025. The results showed a regional prevalence of industrialized construction of 20.5%, along with frequent reductions in construction time, emissions reduced by more than 30%, and waste reductions exceeding 80% in certain cases; however, costs varied significantly depending on scale, context, and the degree of industrialization. The analysis revealed that feasibility depended on the coordination of financing, regulation, early planning, technical capabilities, logistics, and digitalization. It was concluded that modular and prefabricated construction constitutes an alternative with technical and environmental potential, the implementation of which requires comprehensive assessments tailored to local conditions.
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