Pheng, L S; Raphael, B and Ping, L S (2008) Analysing construction trends in the European Union using geographic information systems. Journal of Construction in Developing Countries, 13(1), pp. 1-26. ISSN 1823-6499
Abstract
Geographic Information System (GIS) is a useful tool for storing and manipulating geographical information to analyse patterns, relationships, and trends in order to gain new insights to make better and more informed decisions. Using the power of spatial organisation to suggest causes, explanations and relationships is significantly more superior to other forms of data representation such as the table or graph. This paper examines the construction trends in the European Union (EU) by using GIS software as a computional and presentation tool. The performance trends of the construction market in EU countries relative to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), population and other economic sectors such as agriculture and manufacturing for a 20-year period between 1985 and 2004 were evaluated using GIS. Many EU countries seem to have a relationship with construction among the variables considered. This suggests that GDP, population, agriculture, and manufacturing are important factors that affect the role and development of the construction industry within an economy. GIS representation also demonstrated that it is capable of highlighting unique trends and features for further detailed analysis to be carried out.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | construction; economic development; european union; geographic information system |
| Index terms: | economic development, population, gross domestic product, European Union, geographic information system, construction industry, construction market |
| Subjects: | economic analysis, economic development, physical geography and landforms, industry analysis, market analysis, geographical techniques and analysis, demography |
| Topics: | Urban Studies, Sustainability, Business Strategy, Research Practice, Geographical Context |
| 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