Abstract
PurposeTo realize full benefits without sacrificing the practicality of such projects, the decision-making process for residential building construction needs to include sustainability principles at every level. Therefore, this paper aims to investigate the applicability of radio frequency identification (RFID) and identify the barriers that impede its successful adoption in construction projects to achieve sustainability. Design/methodology/approachThis paper opted for a quantitative approach by using a structured questionnaire survey. A total of 107 responses were collected from Nigerian construction practitioners involved in private and public construction businesses. FindingsThe results showed the high cost of RFID implementation, with a mean score of 4.42 as the top-ranked barrier, followed by lack of security, maintenance, power availability and inadequate training. This study further deployed Ginni's mean difference measure of dispersion and revealed that the stationary barrier to adopting RFID technology is the lack of demand. Practical implicationsThe findings of this research can assist decision-makers in improving the sustainability of all building projects by implementing RFID. Originality/valueThe findings of this study will serve as the basis for comprehension and critically evaluate the numerous barriers preventing the widespread adoption of RFID technology.