Mohamed, M and Tran, D Q (2023) Content analysis of e-inspection implementation for highway infrastructure construction projects. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 30(7), pp. 2621-2644. ISSN 0969-9988
Abstract
Purpose: The use of digital inspection or e-inspection of transportation projects has been proven as an efficient method over the last decade. A wide range of studies were dedicated to developing and applying e-inspection techniques and technologies. However, there is a lack of a comprehensive systematic review and content analysis of using e-inspection in highway construction and maintenance projects. The main objectives of this study were to explore the current trend and identify relevant inspection technologies and their applications for highway construction projects. Design/methodology/approach: A systematic review of 172 articles from 16 high-ranked academic journals in construction engineering and management published during 2000–2021 was conducted. This process resulted in 67 relevant articles included in the detailed content analysis. The analysis involved synthesizing six main construction elements and work types, nine typical inspection activities, and 23 technologies. Findings: The result of the analysis showed that among the six construction elements and work types, bridge and hot mix asphalt (HMA) recorded the largest share of e-inspection research. For the nine inspection activities, progress monitoring of construction operations was the highest focused area of e-inspection research. The most common e-inspection technologies are geospatial tools, 3D modeling, and unmanned aircraft systems (UASs). Camera-based inspection has existed for decades, however, has limited research development. The critical success factors in implementing e-inspection in highway projects are sharing data among different technologies, inspector training, and reducing the cost of technology purchase. Originality/value: This study is one of the first attempts to conduct a content analysis of the e-inspection implementation for highway projects. The findings of this study expose knowledge gaps in contemporary research related to implementation barriers such as cost of purchase and operation of e-inspection technologies and transferring data between technologies.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | e-inspection; highway construction elements; inspection activities; inspection technologies |
| Index terms: | systematic literature review, critical success factor, journal, construction project, progress monitoring, 3D modelling, content analysis, implementation, highway infrastructure, construction operation, construction engineering, highway construction, inspection, methodology, transportation project |
| Subjects: | computational design, control systems, project controls, construction operations, engineering methods, research methods, data analysis and analytics, quality assurance, civil engineering, infrastructure and transport systems, production management, contractual arrangements, research dissemination and communication, research evaluation and metrics |
| Topics: | Quality Management, Digital Applications, Project Management, Research Practice, Site Management, Procurement, Engineering Principles, Time Control |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here