Challenges for development of construction industry in conditions of coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in Latvia

Abstract

The construction industry, like other industries, is being forced to change the working conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic, within the limits set by the EU and the government. Construction is an industry in which a large part of the construction process cannot be carried out remotely, regardless of the level of technological development. Manufacturing, construction, assembly, and other works require a great deal of human labour. During the COVID-19 pandemic, when it is necessary to distance, these construction processes may be adversely affected. However, the use of technologies such as Construction Information Modelling (BIM) and the new Construction Information System (BIS) allows the design industry not to stop using the latest construction technology tools. Digital technologies increase production efficiency, complement other factors of production and stimulate innovation, significantly reduce costs and overcome information barriers. The interpretation of statistics and the interviews conducted confirmed the hypothesis that the virus has had negative and positive effects within the constructor sector of the economy. The research aims to investigate the problems and challenges faced by the construction industry in the conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic, identifying the main obstacles to the introduction of digital technologies in the Latvian construction sector, as well as other problems faced by the industry in the coronary virus COVID-19 pandemic in Latvia, analyze the construction sector and identify the COVID-19 pandemic effect on Latvia’s construction sector. As part of the study, an electronic questionnaire was established and a survey was carried out to identify the changes caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in Latvia’s construction sector, the results were compiled and the conclusions were reached.