Senanayake, S M A H; Gunawardana, P A M; Perera, B A K S and Rajaratnam, D (2024) Examining the potential use of augmented reality in construction cost management tools and techniques. Journal of Engineering, Design and Technology, 22(6), pp. 1847-1869. ISSN 1726-0531
Abstract
Purpose: Construction cost management is one of the important processes that should be achieved effectively and accurately for successful project delivery. Modern-day construction cost management demands a high level of spatial skills. Augmented reality (AR) can potentially increase the stakeholders’ spatial skills as a supportive technology to traditional cost management tools and techniques. AR is a breakthrough technology that could considerably ease execution in various industries, but AR applicability in cost management has not been studied extensively. Thus, this study aims to explore the use of AR in construction cost management tools and techniques. Design/methodology/approach: Data were collected using a qualitative approach consisting of two rounds of the Delphi technique. A total of 22 experts in the construction and information technology fields were interviewed using a purposive sampling technique. The manual content analysis helped analyse data. Findings: The study identified AR features with the potential to increase the usage of cost management tools and techniques. AR can enable spatial skills (abilities, thinking and tasks) in most cost management tools and techniques. However, technical, cultural and technical and cultural barriers obstruct the use of AR in the construction industry. Originality/value: The usage of AR in construction cost management tools and techniques has not been examined in detail until now. Thus, the study was developed to meet the industry needs and fill the literature gap to investigate the potential use of AR in construction cost management tools and techniques. © 2023, Emerald Publishing Limited.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | augmented reality; barriers; cost management; solution; spatial skills; tools and techniques |
| Index terms: | qualitative approach, construction cost, cost management, construction industry, purposive sampling, project delivery, content analysis, methodology, Delphi technique, augmented reality, information technology |
| Subjects: | visualization, data analysis and analytics, project delivery, financial and cost management, data collection methods, computing systems, industry analysis, accounting and finance, research methods |
| Topics: | Digital Applications, Cost Management, Research Practice, Procurement |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTA |
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