Exploring the Perceptions of 3D Printing Through the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) Lens

The existing situation and prospects of implementing digital technologies in construction are the subject of this study. The central notion of digital technology is the transition from “paper-based” technologies to computer-aided design tools and then to information modelling of construction things. Digital technologies are studied in experimental and field investigations, the interaction with mathematical modelling is demonstrated, and the current challenges raised in the area are highlighted. 3D printing (3DP) is a civil engineering invention that adds to automation and provides design, greenness and efficiency benefits. The extant studies lack focus on understanding the perceptions of the use of 3D printing in the AEC industry. The current research explores the perceptions of construction stakeholders through the theoretical lens of the technology acceptance model (TAM). The study adopts a qualitative approach through semi-structured interviews of practitioners possessing 3D printed construction. Subsequently, the transcribed interviews are coded and thematically analyzed using a text-mining tool. The findings include the themes generated from the TAM framework that serves as a conceptual model for prospective practitioners who aim to develop careers in the 3D printing domain.